Group One winner Aegon took trainer and part-owner Andrew Forsman on a whirlwind ride over the last five years, but that journey has come to an end with the announcement of his retirement on Tuesday.
“It has been an awesome journey and he has given us a lot of thrills,” Forsman said. “We felt that he got to that point that he was holding his own in good company but just lacked that dash that he used to have.
“We felt that we were running out of suitable options for him, and it was nice to see him perform in his last race (third in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy, 1600m) as well as he did and be able to be retired a sound and happy horse.”
Bred by Waikato Stud, the son of their ill-fated stallion Sacred Falls was offered through their 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Forsman for $150,000.
The Zame Partnership had tasted success with Forsman when racing Group One winner Jon Snow, and they were quick to join the Cambridge trainer in the ownership of Aegon, who carried their silks throughout his 33-race career.
Aegon made the perfect start to his career when winning on debut over 1300m at Taupo as a three-year-old, which commenced a five-race winning sequence, including the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), and Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
While he would only go on to add the Gr.3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) to his record, he would add a number of high-profile placings to his name, including the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA (1600m).
His talent was also recognised on the international stage, attracting an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to compete in the 2023 edition of the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin, where he finished fifth behind Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty.
“That (Hong Kong) was amazing,” Forsman said. “His form had been a little bit mixed before going over and we knew Golden Sixty was going to be in the race, but Greg Carpenter from the Hong Kong Jockey Club was strong in convincing us to take him up and have a go.
“I am glad we did now because it was such a great experience, the owners had a great time, and he was able to run a very credible race at the same time. It was a brilliant experience for myself and the owners. It is awesome when a horse like that can take you on that sort of journey.”
Forsman said Aegon’s golden run as a three-year-old was also a massive thrill, particularly his victory in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
“Winning the Karaka Million was a big highlight,” he said. “We had bought him at the Karaka sales a couple of years beforehand knowing that you could go there with a strong chance of winning a $1 million race.
“We had a good horse in Amarelinha to beat on the night and it was a little bit of a match race, and to see them pair off and for us to get the bob in on the line was a huge thrill. I think that was the most special moment, although there were a lot of them.
“To see the way he won first-up in Sydney in the Hobartville was also a massive thrill.”
Aegon will now retire to former strapper Hanna Orting’s property in Pukekohe where Forsman said he will be well taken care of.
“Hanna Orting, who spent three or four years looking after him and also went to Hong Kong with him, will take care of him,” Forsman said. “She is now training in her own right and she has got a bit of land up there (in Pukekohe), so she is able to take care of him.”
Aegon won six and placed in five of his 33 career starts and accrued more than $2 million in prizemoney. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
