Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) runner-up The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) has confirmed his rating as a genuine spring Cups player after easily dealing with a quality line-up to win the Winning Edge Handicap (1700m) first-up at Flemington on Saturday.
The winner of the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) last spring, which earned him a place in both the Caulfield (2400m) and Melbourne Cups (3200m), The Chosen One is right in contention for both Cups again after breezing through his first run for the season in fine style over an unsuitably short trip.
Co-trainer Murray Baker said during the week he felt The Chosen One was a big improver from last season and he was certainly right as he put paid to fellow Cups aspirants Django Freeman (Campanologist) and Aristia (Lonhro).
The Chosen One was weighted at 53.5 kilograms for both Cups and looks safely in both races.
Jockey Michael Dee said he went into the race with a bit of confidence.
“He looked ready (in the yard), and speaking to Murray on the phone, he was very positive that he was well and truly fit enough,” Dee said.
“I’m very thankful to Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for today’s opportunity. It was a very stylish win. He improved up in behind them and I gave him a couple with the whip and he just exploded. It was easy in the end.
“It’s onwards and upwards from here.”
Asked whether he was up to the major Cups, Dee said: “Let’s hope so. He’s gotten better and better each year and he’s taken a lot of maturity now.”
A five-year-old entire, The Chosen One had trialled twice in New Zealand prior to Saturday’s victory and had been pleasing his connections ahead of resumption.
While Baker and Forsman are regular fixtures at Melbourne Spring Carnivals, due to COVID-19 restrictions they will not be in attendance this year, with The Chosen One and stablemate Quick Thinker (So You Think) in the care of travelling foreperson Aleisha Legg.
“Honestly, he was working so well before he left here and we’re not surprised that he went so well but pleasantly surprised that he won,” Forsman said.
“He looked so well placed in this race and only five kilos above the minimum there were a lot of pluses. The drift in the market lowered my confidence a little but not too much.
“He contested the good races last spring and autumn but to be fair he had a lot of bad barriers.
“We’re hopeful that he can find a length and get to those races again. It was good to see that but it’s a really good question where he goes next. We’ll have to think about it but Murray does have a really good record with horses going second-up in the Underwood (Gr.1, 1800m).”
The Chosen One is raced by a 19-strong syndicate from New Zealand, which includes breeders the Dennis Brothers – Tony, Joe, Ray and Martin – who bred the colt under their Ravelston Stud Banner.
While it was a positive return from The Chosen One, stablemate Quick Thinker was disappointing when finishing 14th in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
“Quick Thinker was very disappointing but we did know it was going to be a tough assignment for him, going in against those hard weight-for-age horses first-up,” Forsman said.
“He gave it away pretty quickly, so hopefully he pulls up well and we can come up with a plan for him.
“The more give in the track for him, the better, but I thought he was entitled to do a bit more than what he did.”
