Single Red got her Queensland campaign off to a pleasing start on Saturday when finishing runner-up to Nightline in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m), and trainer Andrew Forsman is looking forward to what lies ahead for the daughter of Vanbrugh.
The Group One performer jumped away well under leading Kiwi hoop Craig Grylls to sit outside leader Spicy Lu and hit the lead at the top of the straight. She looked the winner with 150m to go, however, fellow New Zealand-bred filly Nightline flew home late to collect the spoils.
“We were rapt with her, it is just a shame it didn’t work out as we would have hoped,” Forsman said.
“She was always going to begin well and put herself there and just got left without cover outside the leader, who just went too quick. I thought they put the pressure on far too early and that run stopped as quickly as it started. She was left in front a fair way out and was always going to be vulnerable, and she got beaten by a pretty smart horse on the day.”
Forsman’s team have been pleased with the way she has come through the race and she will now press on to the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 23 before heading to the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.
“She has come through it really well, we are rapt with her,” Forsman said. “How well she did in that first week over there is encouraging. She was going to improve with that run and we were hopeful that we could have got a win on the board, but we can really set her up for these last two races.”
Raced by trans-Tasman syndicator OTI Racing, Single Red will be looking to end her three-year-old season on a high, having already won three of her seven starts since making her debut in January, and placed behind Ohope Wins in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2100m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
Meanwhile, Forsman had a pleasing day back in New Zealand on Saturday, particularly for stable clients Jomara Bloodstock, whose familiar green silks were carried to victory by Pacifico in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) at Arawa Park and Mr Mojo Risin’ in the Treadwell Gordon 1400 at Waverley.
“It was a great result for the Carters, who have been great stable clients, and it was awesome to have a day like that for them,” Forsman said.
Forsman is looking forward to progressing Mr Mojo Risin’ through the winter, while he said Pacifico will likely head to Ellerslie later this month before making any further plans.
“We were disappointed (with Mr Mojo Risin’) first-up, but he had plenty of excuses,” Forsman said. “As they get older you never quite know if they are going to come back to their best, but he certainly looks a much stronger, more mature horse this preparation. It was good to see him put it together on Saturday and he will improve further for the run too.
“It was nice to have a $100,000 race on the weekend (for Pacifico), but there are not many of them around for the next wee while. He is one we will keep in work and we might give him a run at Ellerslie on a better track in a couple of weeks’ time and make a plan for him after that.”
Stablemate Kitty Flash will likely head for a spell after she was a beaten favourite in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m).
“She just had to do too much work from a wide draw (11) and I think the track conditions (Heavy9) were the most significant factor, she just tried to get across and couldn’t quite cross them,” Forsman said. “They went steady enough and I think on the heavy ground she just couldn’t really get going.
“There is not going to be any suitable races for her on reasonable surfaces now so it may mean a break at this point, we will make a call in the next day or two.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
