Mustang Valley will be looking to get her campaign back on track when she heads to Randwick on Saturday.
The Group One-winning mare dislodged jockey Wiremu Pinn shortly after the start of the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) after clipping a heel at Te Rapa earlier this month, with the incident forcing trainer Andrew Forsman to alter her autumn plans.
Originally earmarked to head south to Otaki this weekend to line-up in the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m), Mustang Valley has instead flown to Sydney in preparation for the Gr.2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
“Thankfully she pulled up alright (after Te Rapa) and she had a day out,” Forsman said.
“That is why we probably changed tack from going down to Otaki at a mile against seasoned horses like Levante and La Crique.
“We thought keeping her to 1400m and getting her to Sydney and settled in over there was the best thing to do.
“She flew over on Sunday morning and settled in really well and had a good gallop this morning.”
Stablemate Saint Bathans will also feature at Randwick where he will kick-off his campaign over 1200m.
“He was meant to run last Saturday but didn’t get on a flight unfortunately so he will kick off over 1200m, which will be far too short for him I would imagine, but he needs to have a run to get his campaign going,” Forsman said.
Back in New Zealand, Forsman will be chasing Group One glory with True Enough, who will contest the WFA Classic at Otaki on Saturday if the weather plays ball.
“That (WFA Classic) is a little weather dependent and hopefully the track is okay, if not then he has to run in a 1500m at Te Rapa next Saturday and back-up into the 2000m Group One (NZ Bonecrusher Stakes), which is probably the race where he will come into his own,” Forsman said.
Meanwhile, Forsman was pleased with Ethereal Star’s head victory over Cu Chulainn in their 800m trial at Avondale on Tuesday.
The daughter of Snitzel has already impressed in her three starts to date, winning the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m) and runner-up in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), but Forsman believed she would benefit from the addition of blinkers.
“We thought she cost herself a little bit the odd time just wandering around and doing a little bit wrong in the straight, so blinkers helped,” he said.
“If she is good and well, which she seems to be, she will go straight to the Group One (Sistema Stakes, 1200m) at Pukekohe.” – NZ Racing Desk
