A patient approach with Force Of Nature is being rewarded in spades, with the son of Savabeel winning his way toward black-type assignments.
Bred and raced by Milan Park’s Tony Rider, he posted his fifth victory from nine appearances when successful in Saturday’s open 1600m handicap at Te Rapa from Andrew Forsman’s stable.
“He’s certainly going the right way, Andrew has always thought a bit of him, and I think we’ll see him running in a Group race soon,” Rider said.
Early issues resulted in Force Of Nature remaining in Rider’s ownership.
“He didn’t go to the yearling sale because he hurt himself, so we got him ready for the Ready to Run Sale, but he had a little chip in his fetlock and that’s the reason he didn’t sell,” he said.
“We brought him home and took the chip out and nursed him through.
“He hardly raced as a three-year-old and Andrew said we just need to look after him and give him more time and he’ll be a good horse as a four-year-old.”
Rider welcomed further good news on Monday morning with Force Of Nature’s dam Elusive Nature delivering a half-sister.
“She foaled a month early and had a Super Seth filly, so that gives me options whether to keep her or The Chosen One filly, who’s a rising yearling,” he said.
Rider also bred and raced Force Of Nature’s sister Shezzacatch, who won the Listed El Roca Trophy (1200m).
“She’s in foal to Alabama Express and will be going to Anamoe,” he said.
By O’Reilly, Elusive Nature is a daughter of the Elusive City mare Elusive Dreams, whose mother is the Group Two winner Dopff.
Elusive Dreams is dam of the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Savvy Dreams whose Super Seth colt Savour The Dream has been a three-time winner for Gold Coast trainer Bevan Laming.
Meanwhile, Rider’s dual Group One-winning mare Provence has made a belated return to Stephen Marsh’s stable.
“She was up to three-quarter pace when she got a virus and had to have a month off at home,” he said.
Raced with the Social Racing Winners Circle Syndicate, the Savabeel five-year-old claimed the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) within three starts last preparation.
She is out of Rider’s Flying Spur mare Sombreuil, also the dam of Te Akau’s The NZB Kiwi (1500m) and Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) winner Damask Rose. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
