With five races under her belt, Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is one of the more seasoned runners in Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa, and trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping that works in her favour.
Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, Cashla Bay made her debut in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie in February where she beat just one runner home. She improved on that result when placing in her subsequent three starts, before breaking through for her maiden victory over 1400m at Matamata earlier this month.
Forsman was rapt with the confidence-boosting victory and is hoping the daughter of U S Navy Flag can now earn some lucrative black-type this weekend before heading for a spell.
“She has had a fair bit of racing and a fair bit of travelling, but we also wanted to make her a winner this campaign, she has been so genuine right the way through,” Forsman said. “It was good to tick that box the other day at Matamata and hopefully she can get some black-type.”
Cashla Bay will jump from barrier six on Saturday and will be ridden by veteran hoop Vinnie Colgan.
“It all sets up really nicely for her,” Forsman said. “We have got a good, experienced rider in Vinnie on and she has got the ability. The big thing with her is that she jumps and puts herself in the race and she can handle all track conditions. There’s no reason why she won’t have every chance.
“She has been up a fair while now and this has always been the target, and hopefully she can go well.”
Forsman will also be represented in the race by Engine Of War (NZ) (Circus Maximus), who will carry the silks of Australian micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse.
The Circus Maximus gelding placed on debut over 1100m at Waverley last week, and Forsman is hopeful of a bold showing with that experience under his belt.
“He is a very capable horse, he just lacks experience,” Forsman said. “We had to take him down to Waverley the other day without the benefit of a trial just to get his campaign going.
“He is a horse we think a lot of, and I think he will make a nice horse into the spring of his three-year-old year.”
Engine Of War is the first horse Forsman has trained for MyRacehorse, and he said his future is likely to be in Australia post-Saturday’s run.
“They have just come onboard and bought into him,” Forsman said. “At this stage, I’d say his future lies in Australia.”
On the undercard, stablemate Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) is a dual acceptor for the Modern Transport Group (1200m) and Peter Kelly – Bayleys 1400, with Forsman to decide on which race he will contest closer to Saturday.
“We put in a late nom for the 1200m, which came on the radar because of the smaller field size and he is probably better weighted there,” Forsman said.
“We have Craig (Grylls) engaged to ride him in the 75 (1400m), in his own grade, but he has drawn wide (16) in that. I am glad we have got the back up option.
“It will also depend on what the track comes up like. Second-up, if the track was to be testing maybe he is better suited at the 1200m. 1200 to 1400m is about his range.
“We will have to see how the fields shape up in the next couple of days and then make a decision. There’s no firm call either way yet.”
One stable runner that will take her place in the Peter Kelly – Bayleys 1400 is last start winner Wainui Bay (NZ) (Iffraaj).
The Haunui Farm-bred and raced mare has been freshened since her victory over a mile in February, and has pleased in her return, placing in her 950m trial at Cambridge a fortnight ago.
“She has got to make the step up from 65,” Forsman said. “I think 1400m will be a little bit short of her best. We have taken the blinkers off. Toward the end of her last campaign she was going well but had a tendency to be a bit keen in her races and doing a bit early.
“Back to 1400m, up in grade, blinkers off, I think with a light weight (54kg) she can run really well. I think she will be a horse to keep an eye on and see how she goes in 75 (grade).”
Across the Tasman, Forsman will have one representative from his Flemington barn at Caulfield on Saturday, with stakes winner Mustang Morgan (NZ) (Preferment) to contest the Evergreen Turf Handicap (2000m).
After running fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) last month, he disappointed when 12th in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m), and Forsman is looking forward to stepping him back in trip this weekend.
“He seems great, I can’t fault him, we just don’t know why he went so poorly that (Australian Derby) day,” Forsman said.
“We have taken the blinkers off and I think dropping back to the 2000m will suit him. It is a distance we know he has performed well over before, it’s just a shame that he has drawn a poor barrier (13). It is a race he needs to run in. There’s a similar race in a fortnight, and if it doesn’t work out this weekend that will set him up for that at least.
“He will deserve a good break after this campaign and I think he will make a nice stayer in time.”
