Mustang Valley proves a class above
Mustang Valley, the classy mare, showcased her superiority over her competitors at New Plymouth on Saturday, relishing the Heavy 10 track conditions.
The mare, who claimed victory in last season’s Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m), hinted at her winning form when she made a strong late charge to finish sixth in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, where Dragon Leap and subsequent Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) winner Skew Wiff were ahead of her.
Trainer Andrew Forsman opted to skip the Tarzino Trophy in favor of a start at New Plymouth as part of the mare’s preparation to defend her Livamol Classic title on October 14.
Under the skillful guidance of apprentice Triston Moodley, who managed to reduce her allotted weight from 61kgs to a manageable 57kgs, Mustang Valley effortlessly manoeuvred around the field as they approached the home bend, seizing control early and maintaining her lead to the winning post.
Despite easing up in the final 100m, the five-year-old daughter of Vanbrugh held a comfortable two-length lead at the finish, with the fast-finishing local Ladies Man showing promise for future staying races.
Forsman, who was busy saddling up Aegon at Flemington for the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), expressed his satisfaction with both the mare’s performance and Moodley’s adept riding.
Forsman commented on the race, stating, “That was a super win and was designed to set her up for the next two days at Hastings, which it has done.
“She is a pretty straight forward mare, who tends to tow herself into contention in her races, so my main instruction to Triston was not to panic and just let her do her own thing.
“She did exactly what we thought and he handled it all well. She probably knocked off approaching the finish as she had been out on her own for a fair way, but in terms of a good hit out for the future, it was just perfect.”
Forsman revealed the mare’s immediate target, which is the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on September 30, a race where she finished as the runner-up last year.
He added, “The Arrowfield will be her next run and this will clean her up nicely for that.
“Obviously, Legarto looks the horse to beat but I think our mare can be very competitive. Safely through that, the Livamol will be next, but after that, we haven’t thought too much about it.”