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

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
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...
Kaha Nui Swoop on Pinhook Prospects
Successful pinhookers Kaha Nui Farm were to the fore at Karaka on Thursday, and were rewarded with the crown of leading buyer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
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.
Blueblood Filly a Third Winner for Tagaloa
Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa is one of the more affordable sires on the Yulong roster and he sired his third winner at Bendigo on Thursday when well bred filly Teine Aulelia made a winning debut.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
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.
Coles Bows Out After 60 Years
Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting marked the end of an era for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, as Ross Coles, a treasured figure in the industry, retired after 60 years as Clerk of the Course.