3 minute read

Group One winner Aegon has arrived back in New Zealand after a two-start campaign in Melbourne.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained four-year-old finished an eye catching fourth in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and looked to be travelling well in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday, but punctured in the concluding stages to finish 11th.

A subsequent veterinary examination identified the presence of blood at one nostril, which was attributable to external trauma.

The son of Sacred Falls could potentially still run in the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in Sydney in late October, but his first port of call will be the paddock.

"I went out and saw him this morning (Thursday), and he looks bloody good," Forsman said.

"He's bright and happy to be out running about in the paddock. A week on the grass in the fresh air will be good for him then we'll get him back in and see what we do with him."

Forsman shares in the ownership of Aegon  with the Zame Partnership, with the same connections also enjoying success at Cambridge on Wednesday with progressive three-year-old filly Lady Koval.

The daughter of American Pharoah saluted on debut over 1300m on the polytrack and Forsman is keen to see the filly step out on turf.

"She has really matured as a three-year-old. We didn't do too much with her as a two-year-old knowing she was still quite a big immature horse," he said.

"She seems to be handling things really well now and it is probably time to press the button and put a bit of pressure on her and see where she gets to. It was nice to make a winning start, obviously it was not easy going 1300m first time.

"She was up against older horses and when you have to do it start to finish she was very brave and will only get better with race experience under her belt.

"Where we head to this prep I'm not sure, we will just take it race by race. If she could get to the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), that would be great, she does seem to have a bit of speed.

"I think she should run a mile this preparation and we will learn more with her as we race her. Hopefully next time we can get her out on a grass track."