The Andrew Forsman-trained Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor) proved a grade above her rivals when cruising to a near two-length victory in the SA Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
The daughter of Almanzor was sent out a $2.30 favourite after producing good closing sectionals in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) when ninth, and relished the rise in distance on Saturday.
Ridden by Damian Lane, Positivity settled just worse of midfield on the rails and travelled like the winner a long way from home, with Lane’s biggest challenge to avoid those labouring in front of him.
Lane nursed the big-framed filly around the home bend and made his move centre-track, comfortably reeling in fellow Kiwi Zambezi Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), who finished second, with Gotta Go Guru (Fiorente) beaten five lengths in third.
Forsman admitted he had hoped Positivity would be ridden more forward on Saturday, but after again stepping away slowly Lane had little option but to revert to plan B.
“I spoke to Damian this morning and said to be mindful that she has run her better races rolling along being up on pace,” Forsman said.
“That is how we wanted to do it today, but she bobbed in the air again when the gates opened today so he went to plan B and she was just the class horse of the field which got her out of trouble. But it was a good patient ride and stepping out to 2500m does help.”
Forsman said it was likely Positivity would head for a well-earned break, having progressed from a Tauranga maiden winner in January to be a dual Group Three winner and runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
“I would think it is her last run for the preparation,” Forsman said. “She has done a lot. To go over to Melbourne and settle into a new environment plus two trips back and forth to Adelaide, she has done a very good job to get to this point and I think she can have four or five weeks in the paddock now before a spring preparation.
“To be fair, this was her target race. Two weeks ago, she went into the Australasian Oaks off the back of a little bit of a freshen-up and a gap between runs. She boxed on okay but that run was always going to set her up well for today and thankfully it has worked out.
“It is great for her owner Ben Kwok who puts a lot of investment into the industry in New Zealand and he is a good supporter of mine, so it is always great when you can get a result for him.”
Positivity shapes as a nice staying prospect for the future with Forsman having good options at his disposal care of stables in both Cambridge and Flemington.
“She is Group One placed in an Oaks which qualifies her for a few good races in the spring. Whether she is good enough, I guess we will find out,” he said.
Owner Ben Kwok purchased Positivity for $160,000 out of the Woburn Farm draft during the Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka.
The daughter of Almanzor was bred by the late Sir Patrick Hogan and Lady Justine Hogan along with Peter Walker.
She is out of Walker’s Group One placegetter Pussy O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly) and from an extended family that includes stakes winners Pussy Willow (NZ) (O’Reilly), Dopff (NZ) (Tights) and Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom).
Forsman is a fan of young Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, with the Cambridge horseman set to be represented by another stakes-winning daughter of the sire in Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor) at the forthcoming Brisbane Winter Carnival.
“I really like them (Almanzors) and we have been lucky enough to have had a few through the stable,” Forsman said.
“They have got good attitudes. Their temperaments are good and they seem to just get better and better with time, which helps when you are trying to develop stayers.”
