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Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman | Horse Betting https://horsebetting.com.au Australian Horse Racing & Betting Wed, 08 May 2019 23:59:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/android-chrome-256x256-150x150.png Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman | Horse Betting https://horsebetting.com.au 32 32 Baker and Forsman close in on 100 season wins https://horsebetting.com.au/baker-and-forsman-close-in-on-100-season-wins/ https://horsebetting.com.au/baker-and-forsman-close-in-on-100-season-wins/#respond Wed, 08 May 2019 23:59:28 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=105103 Tomelilla
Tomelilla will be one of six runners for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman vying for black-type honours at Rotorua on Saturday.
Photo credit: Trish Dunell

Andrew Forsman doesn’t have the same cricketing claim to fame as his training partner Murray Baker but he revealed he did rack up a couple of centuries as a schoolboy batsman at Te Awamutu College.

The thrill of bringing up three figures hasn’t waned either as Forsman closes in on another century of winners in a season and bids to add to his tally of 102 stakes wins at Rotorua this weekend.

Forsman and Baker, an accomplished first-class cricketer who twice won the Plunket Shield with Central Districts in the late 1960s, will produce three runners in both the Group 3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m) and the Group 3 ISCL Rotorua Stakes (1400m), aiming to replicate their wins in both races last year.

With Caballero’s win at Matamata on Wednesday taking the stable to 98 wins for the season, Forsman is on the cusp of registering his fourth century since joining Baker in partnership in 2012.

“It’s always nice to get to three figures. I did it a couple of times playing cricket when I was younger but I wasn’t much of batsman,” Forsman said.

“It would be nice if we could get there this weekend.”

With five runners at New Plymouth and 10 at Rotorua, the prospects look bright, just as they do in the feature races at Arawa Park where Highlad and Tomelilla return to defend their crowns in the Rotorua Cup and Rotorua Stakes respectively.

High Chaparral five-year-old gelding Highlad was more seasoned last year when he carried 60kg to a three-length win under Jonathan Riddell, rather than just having one run back this preparation for a sixth placing over 1400m at Te Aroha last month.

“We’d have liked to have had one more run leading in but there was nothing suitable. He’s got a big weight (59kg) to carry again and with just one run in, that’s got to be the query with him,” Forsman said.

“But he’s working well. All three worked really well this (Thursday) morning.”

Joining Highlad are last year’s Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) runner-up Zacada and Artiste, a winner of six of her 30 starts.

“Zacada is another with a big weight (60kg) to carry. His form in Sydney was well below what he’s capable of. It was a bit of a head scratcher but he’s working really well and he deserves his shot.

“Artiste is an emerging lightweight (53kg) and while she hasn’t yet proven herself in a race like this, she deserves a throw at the stumps and she’ll probably go out after this.

“In both her last two runs she’s probably made her run a bit soon and she’s just peaked a bit but how long do you hold them up for when they are travelling as well as she has been? But we will probably tell Donavan (Mansour, jockey) to time his run a bit and hold her sprint till a bit later.”

TAB bookmakers rate Highlad as the best of the Baker-Forsman trio at $6 ahead of Artiste at $8.50 and Zacada at $12 in a Rotorua Cup market headed by Azaboy at $4.50.

Like Highlad, Tomelilla is a $6 shot to defend her title in the Rotorua Stakes, with stablemates Peaceful at $10 and Power O’Hata at $17 behind favourites Back In A Flash at $4.40 and Sleeping Beauty at $5.

“Power O’Hata is second on the ballot and needs a couple of scratchings and we wouldn’t want it too heavy for her with that bit of rain forecast,” Forsman said.

“But the rain will help Tomelilla. She performs on a heavy track and it shouldn’t worry Peaceful either. They have both drawn out a bit so that should help them find the best part of the track.”

Six-year-old Tavistock mare Tomelilla is reunited with Troy Harris, who was aboard for last year’s win, and Forsman expects an improved performance.

“The Easter Handicap was always shaping as a tough race for her from that wide draw and she just got too far back to be competitive but this is a much more suitable race,” Forsman said.

“She’s working really well and we can’t really fault her. She was working well going into the Easter and it was just the draw that beat her. She’s going as well as she was when she won last year.

“Peaceful doesn’t lack anything on ringcraft either and she’s pretty much spot on for this too. She was just beaten by a sharper one last time and she’s still on the way up. We’ve just got to get her the best trip possible and see how she measures up – and I think she’ll measure up well.”

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Queensland Derby focus for Baker-Forsman duo https://horsebetting.com.au/queensland-derby-focus-for-baker-forsman-duo/ https://horsebetting.com.au/queensland-derby-focus-for-baker-forsman-duo/#respond Wed, 01 May 2019 00:26:02 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=104517
G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) aspirant Lord Arthur. Photo credit: Trish Dunell

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are likely to have a small, but select team of two target the Queensland carnival, with progressive three-year-olds Lord Arthur and Bobby Dee on a path towards the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.

The pair were last seen in the Group 2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, where Lord Arthur stormed home from the rear of the field to land the spoils, while Bobby Dee finished a game third.

A son of Camelot, Lord Arthur is the fifth stakes winner out of the Zabeel mare Imposingly and is a half-brother to triple Group One winner Bonneval, in addition to Group winners Imposing Lass, Lady Cumquat and Full of Spirit.

Raced by his breeders Peter Newsom, Mac Whitehouse, and Tony Wales after the horse was passed in for $110,000 as a yearling, Lord Arthur looks a stayer of immense potential as he furnishes into his leggy frame.

“He was a horse that was always going to take a bit of time,” Baker said.

“After his first start he looked promising but then he was disappointing a wee bit. It was just immaturity.

“There are not too many similarities with Bonneval. He is a taller individual and he is strengthening up all the time, but he looks to have inherited some of the family ability.

“She (Imposingly) has been a great broodmare, I think she has left five Group winners and there aren’t many that can do that.”

BEST BOOKMAKERS FOR HORSE RACING

Baker said Lord Arthur will run in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) on May 25 at Eagle Farm, the traditional lead-up to the Queensland Derby.

“It was a good win in the Championship Stakes and I think he really appreciated the good tempo of the race. He came from a long way back,” he said.

“He will probably run in the Grand Prix. It is good to have these races back at Eagle Farm, they all get a chance there on what is a roomy track.”

Travelling companion Bobby Dee is another three-year-old that Baker has a good opinion of and he will have one more hit-out before joining Lord Arthur on the flight to Queensland on May 12.

The son of Zed was fourth in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) before finishing a solid sixth in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the beginning of March.

“He will be on the same path but he his running at Te Rapa this weekend,” Baker said.

Bobby Dee will take on the older horses when contesting Saturday’s Rating 82 BCD Group 2200m with Craig Grylls to ride from barrier 12.

“The other day (in the Championship Stakes) it was his first run for nearly two months,” Baker said.

“I thought it was a good run the other day. He can run handy to the speed which can be an advantage.

“We did think about South Australia but it is a long way when you have to go on the road from Melbourne, so I think Queensland will suit these later maturing types.”

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Cup hopes in the balance for Cambridge pair https://horsebetting.com.au/cup-hopes-in-the-balance-for-cambridge-pair/ https://horsebetting.com.au/cup-hopes-in-the-balance-for-cambridge-pair/#respond Tue, 02 Apr 2019 02:13:50 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=102691
Vin De Dance (inside) will contest the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick on Saturday. Photo credit: Trish Dunell

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have two contenders for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in Zacada and Vin De Dance, but the pair will have to perform this weekend to warrant a start in the two-mile feature.

Both horses were disappointing when tailing the field home in the Group 3 Manion Cup (2400m) on a Heavy8 track at Rosehill last month.

While disappointed in their runs, their trainers are hoping they will redeem themselves in the Gr.2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“Vin De Dance got caught three-wide the other day over 2400m,” Baker said. “You just can’t do that in that sort of competition.

“He dropped out and he pulled a bit, because he was three-wide in the clear, which is not like him to pull.

“Zacada just never got into it, he couldn’t cop the track, which surprised us a bit because he has shown form on wet loose tracks before, but he has just got to take his chance.

“Both are good as gold after the run and will both run in the Chairman’s.”

Baker said it would be unlikely that his runners would press on to the Sydney Cup if they don’t put in a good showing on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Baker-Forsman will also line-up Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) aspirant Clementina at Randwick on Saturday.

The three-year-old daughter of Savabeel will contest the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) as a lead-in run to the Oaks and Baker is confident of a good showing from his filly.

“Clementina was very unlucky in the New Zealand Oaks (G1, 2400m),” Baker said. “She went for a run and got balked and couldn’t get a run and Leith Innes had to pull across them. She finished strongly for fourth. I thought it was an outstanding run, she was just unlucky.

“She is going to run in the Adrian Knox this week and Opie Bosson is riding her and we will just go from there.

“She is stakes placed twice in New Zealand. The Adrian Knox does fall away a bit, the big race was The Vinery last week for the three-year-old fillies, but she’ll have her chance (on Saturday).

Baker and Forsman will also have The Chosen One and Madison County in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Last-start Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) winner The Chosen One has drawn barrier 17 in the 18 horse field and will be ridden by Blake Shinn, while dual Group One winner Madison County will jump from barrier 11 under regular Sydney rider Tommy Berry.

Fellow Kiwi contenders Platinum Invador, Arrogant, In A Twinkling and Surely Sacred have drawn 14, 12, 15 and 6 respectively.

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Classic test for Baker-Forsman fillies https://horsebetting.com.au/classic-test-for-baker-forsman-fillies/ https://horsebetting.com.au/classic-test-for-baker-forsman-fillies/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2019 01:33:41 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=101511
Queen of Diamonds winning the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m). Photo credit: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

How his trio of talented fillies handle the step up to 2400m on a rain-affected Trentham track is Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman’s only concern heading into Saturday’s Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Forsman and training partner Murray Baker will produce Queen Of Diamonds, Clementina and Rubira in the three-year-old fillies feature on a track rated a dead six on Thursday morning.

“We’ve got three good fillies that give us a chance,” Forsman said.

“There’s no superstar in the race this year. Queen Of Diamonds looks pretty good but she’s got to run out 2400m on a potentially rain-affected track. Against ours, Pinmedown and Imelda Mary look very nice fillies and it’s hard to fault what they’ve done.”

China Horse Club-owned Savabeel filly Queen Of Diamonds assumed favouritism for the Oaks after her brilliant win in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2000m) at Hastings last month under jockey Matthew Cameron, who retains the ride on Saturday.

“She was very good at Hastings. She was well ridden the way the track was playing. You had to be on the speed that day and she got the right run but she’s also got the turn of foot to do that,” Forsman said.

“Now she’s got to take that ability to the 2400m on an off track. We know she can sprint well but she’s just got to relax now so she can conserve her energy and produce that when it matters.”

Online bookmaker Sportsbet installed Queen Of Diamonds as a $4.20 final field market favourite ahead of last-start Group 3 Sunline Vase (2100m) winner Pinmedown at $4.80, ahead of third favourite Imelda Mary at $6.50. Rubira was at $11 and Clementina at $13 after their runs for eighth and second respectively in the Sunline Vase.

“We probably would have ridden Clementina quieter at Ellerslie but from that good draw we opted to put her in the race and that negated her turn of foot a little bit. Ridden more patiently, she’ll see the 2400m right out,” Forsman said.

“Rubira was getting wound up when the gaps closed and while she wouldn’t have won, she probably would have finished right up with the placed horses. She’s been crying out for a bit of give in the ground and she gets that this weekend.

“Whether she’s mature and strong enough yet to run out the 2400m on a testing track is a query but she deserves her chance. All three of ours are performing well and they all look as good as they did starting their preparations.”

With all three holding a nomination for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 13, that gives weight to the possibility of a trip to Sydney should they run well on Saturday.

Other New Zealand Oaks runners nominated for the Australian Oaks include Pinmedown, Imelda Mary, Savy Yong Blonk, Sentimental Miss, Shezathinka, Elate and Nerve Not Verve.

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Madison County to contest Sydney G1 races https://horsebetting.com.au/madison-county-to-contest-sydney-g1-races/ https://horsebetting.com.au/madison-county-to-contest-sydney-g1-races/#respond Tue, 19 Feb 2019 04:22:58 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=100001 murray baker
NZ trainer Murray Baker will send Madison County to Sydney after a sale to Hong Kong fell through.

Star New Zealand three-year-old Madison County will be aimed at Group One races over the Sydney autumn after his sale to Hong Kong fell through.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding won the Group One NZ 2000 Guineas in November and the Group One Levin Classic last month, both over 1600m.

He was set to start in the Group One Herbie Dykes Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, but was scratched with the sale to Hong Kong pending.

The sale did not eventuate and next week he will head to Sydney where he is nominated for Group One races including the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

“The sale fell over,” Baker told NZ Racing Desk.

“”We will take him to Sydney and race him. He is nominated over there.

“We are not disappointed. We have still got a good horse to train.

“He has missed very little work because we just kept him ticking over and we’ll probably go over there early next week.”

Baker has won more Australian Group One races than any other NZ-based trainer including the 2017 Australian Derby and Oaks with Jon Snow and Bonneval respectively.

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Baker-Forsman trio on trial for Derby https://horsebetting.com.au/baker-forsman-trio-on-trial-for-derby/ https://horsebetting.com.au/baker-forsman-trio-on-trial-for-derby/#respond Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:27:00 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=99720
Exciting three-year-old Cutadeel will contest the Group 2 Schweppes Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo credit: Trish Dunell

Hall of Fame trainer Murray Baker has made a habit of winning Derbys in recent years and reckons he will have a good idea if he can add another one after Saturday’s Group 2 Schweppes Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie.

Baker produced Sir Vigilant to win the Wellington Derby (2400m) at Trentham in 1985 then waited another 23 years for Nom Du Jeu’s Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Since then he has had Lion Tamer win the 2010 Group 1 Victoria Derby (2400m) at Flemington, won the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie with Mongolian Khan and Vin De Dance and added further Australian Derbys with Dundeel, Mongolian Khan and Jon Snow.

The Cambridge maestro and his training partner Andrew Forsman will saddle Cutadeel, The Chosen One and Bobby Dee in Saturday’s Avondale Guineas as a final conditioning run for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby on March 2.

“It will be a good race. It’s a strong field and the Avondale Guineas is usually a great form race for the Derby,” Baker said.

Online bookmakers have installed Cutadeel as a $3.20 favourite for the Avondale Guineas and have the Dundeel gelding as a $6 favourite for the Derby, while The Chosen One at $21 and Bobby Dee at $41 only rank as outside chances for the Baker-Forsman stable on Saturday.

“Cutadeel has won four out of six and done pretty well the whole way through,” Baker said.

“His last three wins, he’s done it pretty well. He’s left us thinking there’s more to give. He’s fit and healthy and he’ll have his chance.”

Cutadeel has already won over 2100m at Ellerslie, taking out the Listed 3YO Salver in December before dropping back to 1600m for a comfortable Rating 72 win at Pukekohe over older rivals.

And Baker, who rates Dundeel as the best horse he has trained, believes he has breeding on his side.

“Dundeel is going very well at stud. He’s had five stakes winners already, including a Group One winner in South Africa. He’s ahead of Snitzel at the same stage,” Baker said.

“And Cutadeel is out of a Dylan Thomas mare and he won an Arc [Prix de l’Arc de Triomph over 2400m]. I’m sure he’ll stay.”

Baker was satisfied with Savabeel colt The Chosen One’s fourth placing in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa and felt he would be improved by that middle distance run after previously racing at 1400m.

“He raced like he was a bit on the fresh side, raced keen, and I’d say he probably needed the run. It was a funny race. Positions never changed. But he’s fit and well. He’s thriving at the moment,” Baker said.

“He needed another run before the Derby and this suits against his own age. I expect an improved run. His mother won at 2500m so there’s no reason he won’t stay.”

Zed gelding Bobby Dee rounds out the Baker-Forsman Guineas trio.

“He’s got to shape up a bit but we think he will stay,” Baker said.

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Derby winner returns at Taranaki https://horsebetting.com.au/derby-winner-returns-at-taranaki/ https://horsebetting.com.au/derby-winner-returns-at-taranaki/#respond Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:19:17 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=98778
Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Vin De Dance. Photo credit: Trish Dunell

The Cambridge stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will be well represented in Saturday’s Taranaki Cup meeting, with a host of runners in the feature events.

The Group 3 Platinum Homes Taranaki Cup (1800m) marks the return of last season’s Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Vin De Dance.

The son of Roc De Cambes finished fourth in both the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) and was plagued by a back injury which thwarted his spring campaign.

After two solid performances at the trials, Vin De Dance is rated a $4.80 chance behind last start Group Three winner Consensus ($2.50), while consistent galloper Overtheriver ($7.50) and Vin De Dance’ stable mate Saint Emilion ($8.50) are other leading contenders.

“He is pretty good and we like to think he is on the way back,” Baker said of Vin De Dance.

“He looks great and has been working well, he might just require a race or two to get back into it.

“I’d like to think if Vin De Dance could show a bit of form we would take him to Sydney because he is a good stayer at his best.”

BEST BOOKMAKERS FOR HORSE RACING

Baker said Saint Emilion had bounced back from a disappointing run when a well-beaten sixth behind Danzdanzdance in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day and the longer-term plan was to see the hardy seven-year-old return to Ellerslie for the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).

“He has freshened up a bit since his run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day,” Baker said. “At 1800m under the set weights and penalties he is not too badly off and should go a handy race.”

The Cambridge trainers will also get a better guide as to the pecking order of their three-year-old classic fillies when Vee Cece and Clementina clash in the Listed Fasttrack Insurance Oaks Prelude (1800m).

“It will be interesting to see where they sit,” Baker said. “1800m will certainly suit Clementina, she is knocking on the door. She is a promising daughter of Savabeel.

“Vee Cece won well at her last start at Te Rapa and she ran a fast time. She is by Canford Cliffs, who was a good miler but she is out of a Zabeel mare so I think she should get the trip.

“We think they might both be Oaks fillies, but we are still a fair way away yet.”

Baker said he was expecting good runs from his runners on the undercard including consistent mare Konstantina, while Lady Blue will represent the stable and the Cambridge Jockey Club in the $80,000 Platinum Homes Taranaki Summer Challenge (1400m).

The race is restricted to horses that were maiden gallopers on December 1, with prizemoney funded by slot-holders, modelled on the successful A$14 million Everest (1200m) in Sydney.

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Baker-Forsman Derby hopes go on the line https://horsebetting.com.au/baker-forsman-derby-hopes-go-on-the-line/ https://horsebetting.com.au/baker-forsman-derby-hopes-go-on-the-line/#respond Thu, 24 Jan 2019 00:28:39 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=98262
Madison County winning the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month. Photo credit: Grant Matthew (Race Images Palmerston North)

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will get a better idea of the strength of their Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hand after racing in the coming days.

The champion training duo still have seven three-year-olds in reckoning for the Derby at Ellerslie on March 2, with five of that contingent racing between Friday and Monday.

Dual Group One winner Madison County will look to add to his winning sequence when he tackles Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie, while Cutadeeel and The Chosen One are slated to race at Pukekohe on Friday and Bobby Dee and Fiery Dragon entered for Te Teko on Monday.

Savabeel colt The Chosen One resumed with an encouraging second to Group One winner Sword Of Osman at Ellerslie earlier this month and he should relish the step up in distance of the Splice Construction 1400 at Pukekohe.

“He’s just getting going again after a break. He was only out for three weeks so didn’t lose much fitness and we were very happy with his run at Ellerslie,” Baker said.

“He ran home the last 600m pretty swiftly and he’s not a 1200m horse. He’s got a Derby nomination but we’ll play it by ear after Pukekohe. He should run well. I don’t think he’ll be far away.”

Baker said The Chosen One could then step up to a middle distance of either the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) on February 9 or wait a week later for the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie.

Dundeel gelding Cutadeel will also contest either of those races should he run as well as expected in the Rogers Racing Stables 1600 at Pukekohe.

“We’re very happy with Cutadeel. He’s going well,” Baker said.

“Because of the handicapping system, he’s got to carry weight against the older horses but he should run. They’ve changed the programme this year and there’s only one week between the Waikato Guineas and Avondale Guineas instead of two, so we’ll make a decision where they go after this one.”

Baker remains unconvinced Madison County is a Derby horse but he’s happy for the Pins gelding to guide him with his performance in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

Shooting for a third straight big-race win after success in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton and this month’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham, Madison County opened a $2.70 favourite for his weekend assignment.

“He’ll run another honest race. He’s done a bit of travelling and this is a strong field, but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t run well again,” Baker said, before adding: “The filly is absolutely flying.”

Baker and Forsman’s filly is Queen Of Diamonds, an easy Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m) winner at Awapuni before finishing third in last month’s Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on a rain-affected Ellerslie track. She is an $11 equal fourth favourite.

“She’s a good filly. She’ll revert back to the fillies races after this and hopefully she can run well in the Oaks.”

At Te Teko on Monday, Bobby Dee and Fiery Dragon need to perform boldly to remain in Derby contention.

“Bobby Dee has had a short break since Ellerslie, but he should run well at Te Teko,” said Baker, whose other two Derby entrants are Lord Arthur and Clementina.

Other runners of note for the stable over the weekend are Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m) winner Mongolian Marshal and Gundown tackling the CollinsonForex Karaka Cup (2200m) at Ellerslie and the Pukekohe clash of Taupo Cup winner Camino Rocoso and True Enough, searching for his fourth straight win.

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Two-pronged Classic attack for Baker-Forsman https://horsebetting.com.au/two-pronged-classic-attack-for-baker-forsman/ https://horsebetting.com.au/two-pronged-classic-attack-for-baker-forsman/#respond Tue, 08 Jan 2019 00:16:13 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=97285
Madison County winning the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings. Photo credit: Trish Dunell

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman hold a strong hand heading into the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday, but are disappointed they haven’t been able to give last-start Group One winner Madison County a lead-in run ahead of the three-year-old feature.

The Pins gelding hasn’t raced since winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, but his connections remain upbeat about his chances heading into the race.

“He’s had a gallop between races. We’ve got him as fit as we can, but unfortunately there wasn’t a 1400m lead-in race,” Baker said.

“We didn’t want to trial him at Cambridge on Tuesday because it was too close to the race, but we’re happy enough with him though.”

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Madison County was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft by the China Horse Club for $36,000 and is being set for a tilt at the rich Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie later this month.

“His main target for the summer is the million dollar race (Karaka Million),” Baker said.

Baker rates his charge and expects a good showing from him on Saturday.

“He shapes up alright, he doesn’t do a lot on the track, so he’s a hard horse to get a line on,” Baker said.

“In the same token, he doesn’t need a lot because he’s not a big heavy horse, he’s lighter framed.”

Online bookmakers have labelled Madison County a $2.20 heavy favourite for the Trentham mile as of Tuesday, while Hypnos has been marked a $4.80 chance, and Lincoln Falls and Surely Scared share equal third favouritism at $6.50 at online bookmaker Sportsbet.

The Baker-Forsman stable will also line-up stakes-winning filly Espresso Martini in the Levin Classic.

The daughter of High Chaparral finished fifth in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on a heavy10 track at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and Baker believes she will appreciate firmer track conditions at Trentham on Saturday.

“Espresso Martini couldn’t cop that track at Ellerslie, but I’m confident she’ll run a mile,” he said. “A firm track shouldn’t worry either of them.”

In-form hoop Matthew Cameron will retain his mount on Madison County, while $26-shot Espresso Martini will be ridden by Michael Coleman.

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Peaceful ready to throw a cat among the pigeons https://horsebetting.com.au/peaceful-ready-to-throw-a-cat-among-the-pigeons/ https://horsebetting.com.au/peaceful-ready-to-throw-a-cat-among-the-pigeons/#respond Wed, 02 Jan 2019 23:34:23 +0000 https://horsebetting.com.au/?p=96949
Peaceful will kick-off her summer campaign at Awapuni on Saturday. Photo credit: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Peaceful might be vulnerable on fitness ahead of her return to New Zealand racing on Saturday but her class could see her competitive.

That’s the view of Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman ahead of the Savabeel filly tackling the Central ITM Premier (1200m) at Awapuni.

It will be the dual stakes winner’s first run since her disappointing performance in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in October, which had followed a fresh-up win in the Listed O’Leary Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui and encouraging sixth in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

“She was heavily in season a lot of the time she was in Melbourne and couldn’t be on Regumate (a treatment which generally prevents female horses coming into heat),” said Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker.

“She’s had a good freshen up and really come to it in the last couple of weeks. She’s starting to come to form nicely in training.”

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A winner of two of her eight starts, Peaceful is nominated for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in March but Forsman said her summer programme had yet to be formulated.

“We needed to give her a run somewhere to get her fitness going before some of those three-year-old fillies races but we haven’t decided yet what she’ll do. The Desert Gold Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) is a possibility,” Forsman said.

“She’ll be vulnerable fitness-wise and she’ll need the run, especially as it’s a pretty handy field, but class might take her a long way.”

The Baker-Forsman stable has two runners in Saturday’s Listed Gallagher Marton Cup (2200m), Mental Telepathy an equal $5 favourite with the online bookmakers last-start Manawatu Cup Prelude (2000m) winner Duplicity and multiple Cups winner Maygrove at $11.50.

Forsman was happy with both but said Maygrove could be at a career crossroad.

“Things haven’t really gone right for him. He’s had to carry big weights and covered a bit of ground so hasn’t had a lot of luck. This could possibly be his last run if he can’t put his hand up and get back to the form we know he’s been capable of. He’s just at a tough place in the handicap.”

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