The Zame family’s colours have been prominent over the last few years through the deeds of Group One winners Jon Snow and Aegon, and they are hoping they can be to the fore once more through a burgeoning young talent by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Like Jon Snow and Aegon, trainer Andrew Forsman also shares in the ownership of two-year-old colt Walkin In Memphis, who carried the Zame silks to victory at just his second start at Otaki on Saturday.
“It was nice to see him get the job done so early in his career,” Forsman said. “We have always thought a lot of him and we just wanted to give him two or three starts as a two-year-old before hopefully seeing the best of him at three.”
Purchased on the Gold Coast as a yearling for A$130,000, Forsman said Walkin In Memphis reminds him a lot of Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Jon Snow, who he trained in partnership with his mentor Murray Baker.
“He has a lot of similarities to a horse like Jon Snow,” Forsman said. “I think Jon Snow won at his second start and probably needed his first start for experience. After he won his second start we put him aside and he just got better and better as a three-year-old.
“This guy is probably going to be sharper over shorter distances than Jon Snow. He has certainly got good ability.”
Forsman is glad to have another quality horse for the Zames.
“They have been lucky colours so hopefully that run continues and this guy can go on to be anywhere as good as Jon Snow or Aegon,” he said.
Forsman has been pleased with the way Walkin In Memphis has come through his weekend run and he is now eyeing a potential tilt at next month’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa.
“He looks to have handled it really well and there is the possibility of giving him one more run before he has a freshen-up before the spring,” he said.
Meanwhile, Forsman was happy enough with the stakes placings of stablemates Kitty Flash and Pacifico in the Listed City of Napier Sprint (1200m) and Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) respectively.
“Kitty Flash was game,” Forsman said. “Poetic Champion led up and we would have liked to have been able to get across and lead. He dropped out of it and she was left in front a fair way from home. She has just been beaten by a couple of very good sprinters.
“She will now go to the mares race (Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes, 1400m) at Rotorua (on May 9).
“Pacifico was great, things just didn’t go quite to plan. We would have liked to have held the lead with him. He was really good over the 2200m against that class of horse.
“It gives us a few more options into the preparation but one thing we did learn is that he is a lot more comfortable right-handed, which probably does mean that in the near future there is not a lot of ideal options and he could potentially go for a freshen-up and do a little bit more later into winter.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Forsman will head to Ellerslie on Saturday with a strong line-up, including four stakes contenders.
Stromlinien will contest the Listed SkyCity Star Way Stakes (1200m), while Elle Sourit will line-up in the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m), and Shoebill and Autumn Queen will tackle the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).
“I am really happy with Elle Sourit, she was unlucky to go under last start but she seems to go well at Ellerslie, so that is a big advantage,” Forsman said. “It will be a decent step up in company from what she has been racing against, so it will be a good test for her.
“We have also got Stromlinien in the Star Way Stakes and Shoebill and Autumn Queen in the Championship Stakes. Autumn Queen ran over a mile last start and I think she is suited over 2000m now, and Shoe Bill would have improved over that run the other day over 2200m.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
