Progressive galloper Force Of Nature returned to racing with a vengeance as he took out the feature event at Pukekohe, the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), courtesy of a rails-hugging ride from Triston Moodley.
The Tony Rider-bred and owned son of Savabeel swept through the grades during the autumn and winter months, winning three of his four starts before finishing sixth of eight runners at Te Rapa in early August where he was found to be lame in a hind leg following the run.
Trainer Andrew Forsman wasn’t prepared to risk him at that stage and put him away for a break to recover before beginning a summer preparation with a second-placed finish over 1100m at the Te Rapa trials towards the end of September.
Forsman concentrated on building the five-year-old’s fitness to have him cherry ripe for his resuming run and the horse repaid that approach in spades as he held out local runner Jaarffi in a blanket finish to add some invaluable winning black type to his record.
Rider Triston Moodley, who had earlier found success aboard impressive juvenile Speed Demon in the second event on the card, made full use of an inside barrier for his mount to have him travelling sweetly in the trail behind race favourite I’munstoppable throughout.
Moodley quickly angled Force of Nature around the weakening pacemaker at the 300m and dived through a yawning gap on the fence to join Moving Melody and Jaarffi in a three horse war that went right to the wire as he defeated Jaarffi by a nose with a head back to Moving Melody and less than half a length over the late-closing First Five, Whiskey ‘N Roses and Pour the Wine.
Forsman had been concerned about the gelding’s fitness for a tough run 1200m and was pleased everything had fallen into place for his charge.
“I thought he might be a little vulnerable late as it has been quite a while since he has had a run, so credit to the team at home to have him right,” Forsman said.
“It was a very game effort and he is a talented horse, so hopefully he can come through this well and we can press on.
“We haven’t plotted out a path beyond today as this was the race we wanted to have him spot on for.
“He is now a stakes winner which is important for Tony as he is breeding from the family, so it’s a massive result.
“It is a good feather in his cap so hopefully he can go on with it.”
Force of Nature is out of the O’Reilly mare Elusive Nature and is the younger brother of Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) winner Shezzacatch who also ran 4th in the 2023 Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) behind Levante. He has now won six of his 11 starts and more than $182,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ NZ News Desk
