China Horse Club Chasing NZ Oaks

Media Release - Thursday March 14

How his trio of talented fillies handle the step up to 2400m on a rain-affected Trentham track is Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman's only concern heading into Saturday's Group I Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Royally bred Queen of Diamonds will run in the G1 New Zealand Oaks for China Horse ClubForsman and training partner Murray Baker will produce Queen Of Diamonds, Clementina and Rubira in the three-year-old fillies feature on a track rated a dead six on Thursday morning.

"We've got three good fillies that give us a chance," Forsman said.

"There's no superstar in the race this year. Queen Of Diamonds looks pretty good but she's got to run out 2400m on a potentially rain-affected track. Against ours, Pinmedown and Imelda Mary look very nice fillies and it's hard to fault what they've done."

China Horse Club-owned Savabeel filly Queen Of Diamonds assumed favouritism for the Oaks after her brilliant win in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2000m) at Hastings last month under jockey Matthew Cameron, who retains the ride on Saturday.

"She was very good at Hastings. She was well ridden the way the track was playing. You had to be on the speed that day and she got the right run but she's also got the turn of foot to do that," Forsman said.

"Now she's got to take that ability to the 2400m on an off track. We know she can sprint well but she's just got to relax now so she can conserve her energy and produce that when it matters."

Advertisement

TAB bookmakers installed Queen Of Diamonds as a $4.20 final field market favourite ahead of last-start Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) winner Pinmedown at $4.80, ahead of third favourite Imelda Mary at $6.50. Rubira was at $11 and Clementina at $13 after their runs for eighth and second respectively in the Sunline Vase.

"We probably would have ridden Clementina quieter at Ellerslie but from that good draw we opted to put her in the race and that negated her turn of foot a little bit. Ridden more patiently, she'll see the 2400m right out," Forsman said.

"Rubira was getting wound up when the gaps closed and while she wouldn't have won, she probably would have finished right up with the placed horses. She's been crying out for a bit of give in the ground and she gets that this weekend.

"Whether she's mature and strong enough yet to run out the 2400m on a testing track is a query but she deserves her chance. All three of ours are performing well and they all look as good as they did starting their preparations."

With all three holding a nomination for the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 13, that gives weight to the possibility of a trip to Sydney should they run well on Saturday.

Other New Zealand Oaks runners nominated for the Australian Oaks include Pinmedown, Imelda Mary, Savy Yong Blonk, Sentimental Miss, Shezathinka, Elate and Nerve Not Verve. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Daylight Debut 2YO Winner for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot (GB) is coming back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and he added a 12th Aussie 2YO winner for this season to his tally at Ballarat on Tuesday with an impressive debut winner in the Myracehorse colours.
Pride of Dubai Mare Hits Form
Pride Of Aspen looked right at home when she scored a decisive victory in the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (2200m) at Otaki’s rescheduled meeting on Tuesday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 8
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Probabeel Chasing Karaka Million History
High-class filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will shoot for a slice of history at the Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on January 25.
One to Watch – Muswellbrook
Richard and Will Freedman don’t mind travelling horses for the right race and they unleashed a talented two year-old Zousain colt at Muswellbrook on Tuesday.
Mo'Unga Looking to Bounce Back
Trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to stepping out Group One winner Mo’unga in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, where she is expecting to see an improved run from the entire.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were only three heats won by juveniles at the Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday morning, but they included a couple of youngsters by first season sires Fierce Impact (Jpn) and Peltzer, who sired his first stakes-winner last Saturday in Buccleuch.
Savabeel Blueblood Wins G3 Desert Gold
A copybook ride by Opie Bosson paved the way for promising filly Showbeel to add a valuable black type success to her career record when she took out the first feature race at Trentham on Saturday, the Group III New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
Probabeel Shows her Class
Superstar three-year-old Probabeel proved a class above her age-group rivals when she made a winning start to her summer campaign over 1400m at Awapuni on Saturday.
Quantity and quality in Rich Hill Stud’s Online Breeding Stock Sale draft
Rich Hill Stud is a prominent player in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, offering more than 10 percent of the 87-lot catalogue.