Karaka Graduate Mr Maestro Makes it a Stakes Double for Forsman

Media Release - Saturday October 1

A powerful Group I Victoria Derby (2500m) audition by Mr Maestro capped a special day at the office at Flemington on Saturday for Andrew Forsman.

The Cambridge trainer saddled two runners, and both won stakes races. Group One-winning filly She’s Licketysplit took out the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m), and then four hours later in the final race on the card, Mr Maestro strode to a dominant win in the Listed ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes (1800m).

Mr Maestro stakes his Victoria Derby claim - image Grant Courtney

“It’s been a great day, two for two and I’m really rapt with how the team’s going here,” Forsman said.

“Aoife Brennan is here in Melbourne, she’s done a magnificent job, she’s been here the whole time, I’ve only been backwards and forwards, so she’s done all the hard work and a lot of the credit goes to her.”

Advertisement

A comfortable last-start winner of the Victoria Derby Preview over the same course and distance on September 18, Mr Maestro upped the ante on Saturday with a super-impressive performance on a good surface.

Ridden by Damian Lane, the Savabeel colt was always travelling the best in the 12-horse field and quickly asserted his superiority in the home straight. He opened up a commanding advantage before being eased down through the final 75m and crossing the finish line two lengths clear.

“It was a solid clip throughout, and as the leaders started to get a little tired, he just towed me into the race and was travelling so well turning for home,” Lane said.

“His improvement since he’s been here has been quite incredible. When he turned up at Sandown for his first run here, he was a little bit heavy, and he was woolly with a New Zealand winter coat on him. He ran well there, but I couldn’t have foreseen the improvement that he’s made. Just each run he’s improved, particularly the last two and particularly last run to this run.

“He just looked magnificent in the yard, and even going around to the start he just felt really switched on. He’s such a green horse that he’s learning all the time and I think that’s helping his improvement even further.”

Now the winner of three of his eight starts, Mr Maestro has moved into $4.50 favouritism in the TAB’s market for the Victoria Derby on October 29.

“I think he actually looked better in his action on top of the ground today, which is great going forward,” Forsman said. “We haven’t locked in any other races yet, but we’ll just pick out whatever suits him best going into the Derby.”

Mr Maestro was purchased by Forsman out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $100,000.

The colt is out of six-time winner Let Me Roar, who was Group Two placed for Forsman and former training partner Murray Baker and is a half-sister to the stable’s Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer. He becomes the 127th stakes-winner for champion sire Savabeel.  NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Savabeel

Savabeel in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Abc Bullion Super Impose Stks LR 1800m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:48.40
1
Mr Maestro
- 3c Savabeel (AUS) x Let Me Roar (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Damian Lane 57
2
2.0
Red Sun Sensation
- 3g Awesome Rock (AUS) x Society Gal (NZ) (Faltaat (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 57
MM Perth Yearling Sale $55,000
Seller: Gold Front Thoroughbreds, Gingin, WA
Buyer: Pearce Racing
3
2.2
Berardino
- 3c Real Impact (JPN) x Roseito (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Melham 57
4
2.4
Artzino
- 3g Tarzino (NZ) x Art Beat (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Oliver 57
5
3.1
Grand Pierro
- 3g Pierro (AUS) x Le Societe (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 57
6
5.4
Major Beel
- 3g Savabeel (AUS) x Gram (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: B Shinn 57
7
6.6
Cadazio
- 3g Tarzino (NZ) x Light Up A Screen (NZ) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
8
8.9
Makalu
- 3c Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Mount Zero (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
9
9.6
Bring The Boom
- 3g Tarzino (NZ) x Sonic Queen (AUS) (Lope De Vega (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: John Allen 57
10
11.9
Kapakiri
- 3c Kermadec (NZ) x Oriental Lady (GER) (Doyen (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 57
11
19.9
Sir Torobeel
- 3g Toronado (IRE) x Miss Maggiebeel (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: Liam Howley Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
12
20.6
King's Crossing
- 3g Almanzor (FR) x Spiriting (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 57
More Reading...
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
G3 Moonga Return for Mr Maestro
On the anniversary of the biggest win of his career so far, classy New Zealand-bred gelding Mr Maestro will race in black-type company on Caulfield Cup Day again in 2023 – this time in his first run back from an injury lay-off.
Savabeel Colt Stakes a Claim for Victoria Derby
After enjoying a red-letter day at Caulfield, the Kiwis look to have a serious Victoria Derby contender in Savabeel colt Mr Maestro.