Multiple Group One-winner Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) is not a certainty to defend her Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) crown on Wednesday at Matamata.
Andrew Forsman, who trains the mare out of Cambridge, has had a difficult time managing an interrupted preparation, missing a start over 1400m at New Plymouth before Saturday’s abandonment at Hastings continued her woes.
“We’re a little bit disappointed, she’s already been down to one abandoned meeting and didn’t have a run, so we gave her a trial and thought we had her right for last Saturday,” Forsman said.
“We’ve now been asked to get her on the float, come home and be ready for Wednesday without a proper preparation. Given that her campaign has been muddily to say the least to this point, it’s going to probably just be a little bit too hard.
“If the Group One was moved to this Saturday, we would’ve been able to get a couple of decent gallops into her and prepare properly for a race at that level, but she hasn’t been given that opportunity.
“At this stage, we’re leaning towards racing her on the weekend.”
There is a sense of déjà vu for Forsman with Mustang Valley and the Arrowfield, having run second in the race two years ago when it was, as on this occasion, transferred to Matamata, but on the following Saturday.
“When we were in this situation two years ago, I felt they did the right thing by moving the race back a week, giving horses a chance to get home from Hastings and be prepared properly,” he said.
“I just don’t think she’s in that situation this year unfortunately.”
Forsman has nominated the daughter of Vanbrugh for both the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera, and the Team Wealleans 1600 at Tauranga, with a shot at next Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) more suited to the latter.
“She hasn’t had quite the right preparation to go to the Livamol (Gr.1, 2040m), unless she runs in the open mile on Saturday,” he said.
If the mare does not start on Wednesday, Forsman’s stable will still be represented by Saint Bathans (Maurice) in the mile feature.
The Maurice gelding has performed creditably in strong company since returning from Australia last year, including a narrow second in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day.
“He will probably run, just for the lack of other options when we are hoping to have him ready for a Livamol,” Forsman said.
“We feel it’s probably the right path for him, he’s had a solid 1400 and can have a good mile race on Wednesday, giving him the chance to run Saturday week at Te Rapa.”
Elsewhere on the Matamata card, Belardi (NZ) (Belardo) will step out in the Gr.2 AHD – Animal Health Direct Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). During his juvenile season, Belardi won the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) over subsequent stakes winner Raziah, and enters the race off a trial win a fortnight ago at Rotorua.
“He’s going great, it’s just a matter of whether he’s going to be effective on top of the ground,” Forsman said.
“We feel like he will be, but whether it’s at this level or not, that’s for him to prove.
“He’s drawn well so he should jump and put himself on the pace, which should be an advantage at Matamata with the rail back in the true position.
“He’s in good form, so he’ll get his chance to put his hand up and say that he’s a contender or not.”
The son of Belardo holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November, as does Richard And I (NZ) (Ocean Park), who lines up in the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m).
“He has drawn well the second time around, it’s a very tough competitive race and a few locals have come into the mix, but it’s very much a run for him to find out where he’s at,” Forsman said.
“We will find out whether he’s a Guineas-type proposition, or whether we are better to back off him and give him a little bit more time.”