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."

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...
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
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.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
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.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
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.
Savabeel Colt Secures Karaka Million Start
Te Akau Racing’s quest to win the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the fourth year in succession was bolstered considerably when Cool Aza Beel ensured his place in the field with a dominant victory at Tauranga on Friday.
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).
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.