Hinekaha will have an opportunity to stamp her Derby credentials against the boys at Ellerslie on Saturday when taking on the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m).
The classy three-year-old has been lightly-tried, with just four starts returning two wins and two minor placings, including a victory at her most recent start in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth. Andrew Forsman, who trains Hinekaha at Cambridge, couldn’t have been happier with her effort in the Central Districts.
“It wasn’t a big margin, but I thought it was a very dominant performance,” he said. “It was nice to see her be able to use a good draw and put herself in the race, so we know she’s versatile.
“It was a strong effort with improvement to come out of it.
“She had a pretty quiet week after that, the timing between with the three weeks was good and it’s worked in her favour. She’s had a good couple of gallops this week to have her ready.”
Forsman indicated from an early stage that the filly’s ultimate goal would be the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) in favour of her own sex in the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
Saturday’s contest against Derby favourite Willydoit, and a number of other contenders, will determine whether she takes on the iconic feature on Champions Day or heads to Trentham later in March.
“Depending on how she performs on Saturday, that will dictate our path forward,” he said.
“We would clearly love to be running in a Derby, but from an awkward draw, I hope she gets her chance to prove she’s up to these boys.”
Hinekaha’s stablemates Prochester and Mustang Morgan are among those on their way to the Derby, with the latter taking out the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) two starts back at the course.
“He’s performed at the track which is always a bonus,” Forsman said. “We gave him a freshen-up after that and back to a mile, he was just a little unlucky that day too and the mile was probably a tad sharp.
“He’s a horse that will run a solid race on Saturday, but I’m really looking forward to getting him out to the 2400m of the Derby.”
Forsman shares a similar opinion of Prochester, who had no favours when running into fifth in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2400m), won by Tuxedo.
“He was very unlucky, a couple of horses basically stopped in front of him when he was building momentum otherwise I think he would’ve been right in the finish,” he said.
“Again, it’s a tricky race for him and we probably would’ve preferred to be in the 65, but he didn’t make the field. He’ll really come into his own over the 2400m of the Derby.”
Group One performer Moonlight Magic will represent the stable in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) after strong performances in the Remutaka Classic (2100m) and behind About Time last-start at Ellerslie.
“I thought her last start was very good in a slowly run race, she got back and her sectionals were as good as anything in the race,” Forsman said.
“It’s a shame about the barrier draw (15) for her, she typically does get back and it would’ve been nicer to be a couple of lengths closer in the running. She’ll be up against it, but I think she’s going well enough if she gets the right run.”
The daughter of Almanzor holds a nomination for the Gr.2 Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) in a fortnight.
“That’s the plan, her better performances have come on rain-affected tracks so on quicker ground, she probably needs further,” Forsman said. “It does depend on her run on Saturday, that will determine whether we try her at the two miles.”
Stable stalwart Aegon was the hard-luck story of the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) last month, being held up to the dying moments before flashing into fourth. The gelding will aim to go one better on last year’s result in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m), where he will be ridden by Vinnie Colgan.
“He’s going really well, he was another unlucky runner last start and again, he is that sort of horse,” Forsman said. “He gets back in his races and does need the luck at the right time.
“He’s got an awkward draw (8), but a positive is that it’s only an 11-horse field so hopefully he won’t be too far off them. We know if he runs up to his best, he’ll be competitive.”
Joining the $2 million-earner in the Group One will be Mary Shan, a talented mare who was beaten only by Orchestral in the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on Karaka Millions Night.
“She was great, she ran a super race and was just beaten by a better horse,” Forsman said.
“From the wide draw (11), we’ll be able to press forward with her, there’s not a heap of speed outside of Belclare and El Vencedor. We can probably try to put ourselves in the race a bit from there.”
Outside of the feature contests, Forsman is looking forward to kicking off the career of juvenile gelding The Espy, after a sharp trial win on February 11.
The Espy has accepted into both the TAB 1100 at Ellerslie and the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Two-Year-Old at Otaki, with Forsman leaning in favour of the latter.
“I’m keeping an eye on the weather at Otaki, he wants a Good track so we accepted in both to see where we drew,” he said. “Clearly he has a better draw down there, so if the rain stays away, he’ll be more than likely heading down.
“He’s always shown plenty of ability, I guess the only factor is he’s just had the one trial. You know that you’re up against the horses with a couple of trials or a run or two, they just have that little bit of an advantage.
“But he certainly doesn’t lack ability and I think if he does things right and gets the right run, he’ll be competitive wherever he heads.”
A son of U S Navy Flag, The Espy was bred by The Oaks Stud and purchased by Forsman for $100,000 out of their draft at the 2024 National Yearling Sales.
“We had a nice U S Navy Flag that we rated at the time, and I thought this horse was a very nice mover, he was a neat type of horse,” he said. “He’s the athletic type that we try to buy if we can, and at this stage, he’s putting things together well.”
