Two colts with the pedigree and form to be serious Victoria Derby contenders fought out Saturday’s Group III Neds Caulfield Classic (2000m).
The Andrew Forsman-trained Mr Maestro made it three wins on the bounce with a fighting win over Muramasa.
Ridden by Harry Coffey, Mr Maestro made a searching run from the tale of the small field.
The son of Savabeel defeated the royally-bred Deep Impact x Omei Sword colt Muramasa by a short-head with a further two lengths back to the Shamus Award gelding Distrustful Award in third.
Coming off a two length win in the Listed Super Impose Stakes at Flemington, Mr Maestro advances his record to four wins and a third from nine starts with earnings of $301,379.
“(Muramasa) made him work. It really didn’t pan out as we would have liked,” Forsman said.
“He had to do a bit of work. Harry probably had to get on his bike a furlong earlier than he would have really wanted but it worked out from there.
“This guy keeps improving like Lion Tamer did. He was in Sydney early before he went to run in the Derby, and he struggled in a couple of runs there then the penny dropped at The Valley that day to win impressively and hopefully this guy can replicate it.”
Purchased by his trainer for $100,000 from the Windsor Park draft at Karaka in 2021, Mr Maestro is the second foal of the Group II placed Rip Van Winkle (IRE) mare Let Me Roar, who won six of her seven starts.
A sister to stakes-placed Lubaya, Let Me Roar is a half-sister to Lion Tamer. He won the 2010 Victoria Derby by six and a half lengths and the Group 1 Underwood Stakes for Forsman’s recently retired partner Murray Baker
A Charm Spirit colt out of Let Me Roar sold for $80,000 at Karaka earlier this year.
