Aegon Ready to Take on Stars in G1 Memsie

Media Release - Tuesday August 27

Stable stalwart Aegon will spearhead a three-strong team for Andrew Forsman at Caulfield on Saturday when he attempts to build on a bold but luckless first-up showing across the Tasman.

The seven-year-old will tackle the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) for a third time while black-type challenges also await his younger stablemates Yaldi and Positivity.

Aegon will contest Saturday's Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.  - image Grant Courtney

Unplaced in last season’s Memsie and fourth in 2021, Aegon opened his Australian campaign when a resuming fourth in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Staes (1400m) from a horror barrier.

“We were rapt with him, it was a shame he drew the outside and when he does draw wide it means he has to go right back,” Forsman said.

“He’s always vulnerable to needing that bit of luck and he didn’t quite get it when he needed it, if he wasn’t held up for those few strides he might have finished closer.”

Aegon has done well in the interim and Vlad Duric will retain the ride on the gelding, who is within touching distance of breaking the $2 million mark in career earnings.

“He’s trained on great and we’re really trying to make a point of keeping him as fresh as we can,” Forsman said.

“Typically, on a two-week backup he hasn’t produced his best so we’re trying something a little bit different this time around.

“It’s race by race with him as it has generally been for the last year or so, we’ll see how he performs on Saturday and work it out after that.”

Yaldi and Red Sea were both nominated for the Gr.3 McNeill Stakes (1200m), but only the former will take his place on Saturday.

“They went to Caulfield this morning (Tuesday) for a gallop and had a nice hit-out and have settled in really well,” Forsman said.

“Michael Dee will ride Yaldi who is forward, I just think that there might be a couple a bit slick for him.

Advertisement

“It’s very much a run to get his campaign going and we’d like to see him hitting the line well with his main targets the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (Gr.3, 1400m) and the Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m).”

Yaldi was a debut winner at Pukekohe last season before the son of Ardrossan was spelled following his third in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

Pierata three-year-old Red Sea ended his juvenile campaign with a runner-up finish in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

“He will have a jump-out at Flemington on Friday and at this stage, he’ll probably kick off in the Poseidon Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on September 14,” Forsman said.

Positivity is set to resume in Tile Importer Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) with Harry Coffey to partner the daughter of Almanzor, who won the Gr.3 SA Classic (2500m) at her last appearance.

“She’s had a couple of jump-outs and is as forward as we can have her,” Forsman said.

“If she is going to do anything as a four-year-old mare, it’s never easy coming out of their three-year-old year, it will be over ground.

“This is very much a starting point for her and hopefully we can get a couple of runs into her before we get her out over further.”

Meanwhile, Forsman will have three runners on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Wednesday with Retrostar in the Give A Little Rahul Shinde (1550m), Magnastar in the Cambridge Equine Hospital (1550m) and Richard And I in the Saddlery Warehouse (1300m).

“I think they’re all chances, Retrostar will have the blinkers on to hopefully get him out of the gates and rolling,” he said.

“The other two obviously performed well at their last starts, Magnastar won his only race start and I’m happy with how Richard and I came through his trip to Ruakaka.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Derby Options Alive For Impending Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy look to have a smart 3yo on their hands as Impending colt Options wins the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and could now be aimed towards the $2m Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 1.
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Kiwi Raider Aegon Back in Melbourne
There would be few horses with more frequent flyer points than Aegon, and the well-travelled gelding racked up a few more earlier this week when he hopped across the Tasman.
G1 Metrop Win for Australian Bloodstock
Second in the Italian Derby at three, progressive stayer Royal Supremacy (IRE) had racked up multiple Group placings in Europe before his sale to Australian Bloodstock and broke through for his first ever stakes win when taking out the $750,000 Group I ATC The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Aegon Ready for All Star Mile
Andrew Forsman is confident Aegon is up to the task that awaits him in Saturday’s All-Star Mile (1600m) if the five-year-old gets his fair share of luck at Moonee Valley.
Aegon Headed for the All Star Mile
Aegon will join Desert Lightning in the Kiwi-trained raid on next week’s A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) after receiving a wildcard for the race on Tuesday alongside fellow New Zealand-bred Ayrton.
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
Inglis and Yulong Confirm Magic Time for Everest Slot
Inglis will partner with worldwide racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong for the running of the 2025 The Everest, with the combination to be represented by Magic Time in the $20m contest.
Wow! Sacred Falls Colt Aegon Makes a Statement in the Hobartville
In a tick over 84 seconds, Australian fans learned what all the fuss was about across the Tasman when the Sacred Falls colt Aegon kept his record at a perfect five for five in the Group II City Tattersalls Club Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).