Australia Possible for Mustang Valley

Media Release - Friday March 15

Australian shores are beckoning Mustang Valley once more, and trainer Andrew Forsman is looking forward to seeing if she is up to the task when she heads to Tauranga on Saturday to kick-off her autumn preparation in the BOP Equine Vets Open Handicap (1400m) at Tauranga.

Mustang Valley will kick-off her autumn preparation at Tauranga on Saturday.   Photo: Trish Dunell

The dual Group One-winning daughter of Vanbrugh was last seen on Kiwi shores last October in a campaign that included an impressive victory in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) before heading across the Tasman for two unplaced efforts.

Courtesy of apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey’s three-kilogram claim, the mare will get some weight relief from her 63kg allocated weight on Saturday, and Forsman indicated it would be a hopeful springboard towards another Australian target.

“The 1400m fresh-up suits her, she’s trialled well and worked really well, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the finish,” he said.

“It’s never easy giving weight to good horses, but she’s a good horse herself, she’s a dual Group One winner with class.

“We’ll get this run into her and there’s plenty of options around. Sydney is potentially on the cards, we are possibly looking at the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) on the final day of The Championships.”

Among the mare’s seven rivals is stablemate Saint Bathans, the imposing Maurice five-year-old also returning in a fresh state after going down by a nose to Habana in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day.

“He’s great, he trialled really well the other day too, but also coming off a freshen-up so he may be a touch vulnerable at the 1400m,” Forsman said.

Advertisement

Forsman is looking at a return to Tauranga for next Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) for the gelding, who carries 6kg less than Mustang Valley with Billy Jacobson in the saddle.

“It’s really just a run to set him up to ideally back-up next Saturday in the set weights and penalties mile at Tauranga, which we are definitely considering,” he said.

“He should be competitive though, and any rain around will certainly help his chances.”

Completing Forsman’s team will be classy Snitzel filly Ethereal Star, who will tackle the Super Liquor Greerton 1600.

“She was good in the Karaka Millions ($1.5 million 3YO, 1600m) with a hard run and we dropped her back to the 1400m at Ellerslie (Gr.3 Mufhasa Stakes), where she possibly looked like a horse that wants to be getting over further,” Forsman said.

“That ruled out going for the 1400m and all the way to Wellington (for the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas).

“It’s not easy taking on Rating 75 horses at a mile, but we want to test her again at that distance again to see where she’s at. If she can get a mile or further, it opens up options potentially in Brisbane for her.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 8
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.