Trial Win for Star Kiwi Aegon

Media Release - Thursday April 1

Group One winner Aegon pleased his connections with his trial win over 1175m on the polytrack at Warwick Farm on Thursday ahead of his tilt at the Gr.1 Doncaster (1600m) at Randwick next Saturday.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding had a brief freshen after he finished sixth in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), his first taste of defeat on raceday.

“He would have needed it because we have been pretty soft on him and he did have a freshen-up so he needed that day out, and I am sure he would have had a decent blow,” Forsman told SEN Track.

“I spoke with Aleisha (Legg, foreman) and she said he probably needed it a touch, but that is exactly why we took him there today and a couple of good gallops next week should have him right.”

While the Doncaster was essentially a Plan B route for Aegon in Sydney, Forsman said it remained the most viable option for the colt.

“It was after he failed in the Randwick Guineas, we really had no other option,” Forsman said.

“He wasn’t coping that well (with the short back-up) and we couldn’t just press on and run him over ground.

“He should make the field. I think fresh going into the mile suits him.”

Advertisement

Aegon is set to carry 52.5kg in the Doncaster, but Forsman said there are a handful of other strong chances with light weights in the field.

Aegon wins the G2 Hobartville Stakes - image Steve Hart.

“You look at the top of the order and there are some handy horses carrying some light weights and they will be dangerous,” he said.

“He will get his chance and it is the most suitable option for him for where he is at in this stage of his career.”

Aegon won all four of his starts in New Zealand, including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), before he travelled to Sydney and won his Australian debut in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

Fellow three-year-olds Lion’s Roar and Mo’unga have both been allotted 49kgs in the Doncaster, while five-year-old Think It Over, winner of last week’s Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) has 52kgs.

Aegon was purchased by Forsman out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $150,000. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
One to Watch – Sha Tin – You Don’t See That Every Day!
The Mark Newnham stable has been on fire in Hong Kong since the start of the new season and the former Sydney trainer produced a super promising winner at Sha Tin on Sunday by Capitalist that did everything wrong and miraculously still won the race!
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.