Tough barrier for Single Red in competitive Oaks

Weather, weight and poor barriers pose a challenge for Andrew Forsman as the Cambridge horseman readies for a busy trans-Tasman weekend.  

Forsman has been campaigning his promising filly Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in Queensland over the past month, and having proven herself up to the mark against the three-year-old fillies, runs in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). 

Once favourite for the A$700,000 feature, Single Red is still rated among the chances after finishing second in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) and fourth in the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m), the latter won by the Oaks’ second-elect Fireball Miss.  

Forsman had been hopeful of a good barrier draw after a wide alley was costly in The Roses, but the lack of good fortune continues with barrier 21 against her name including emergencies.  

“We would have loved a good draw, that’s probably what cost her in her first couple of runs over there – just being left exposed without cover and electing to go forward, which hasn’t worked out both times,” Forsman said. “She was left a bit of a sitting shot turning for home.  

“I guess from the wide draw we will try to snag her back for a bit of cover and hope the race is run genuinely so she gets her chance.  

“She hasn’t been beaten far, she’s been right there and while last start was disappointing, she wasn’t far away. If she does get some luck in the Oaks, she’s going to be competitive again.”  

Back in New Zealand, Forsman has a trio of runners pencilled in for Te Aroha’s rescheduled meeting on Thursday including six-win sprinter Force Of Nature.  

Whether the classy gelding takes his place Waihou Tavern (1100m) is yet to be determined, with the heavier track conditions posing a concern.  

“We are a little bit nervous about the track,” Forsman said.  

“He found the track a little too firm at Te Rapa last start so we had been looking forward to Monday before the rain had really hit, where he could still get that bit of give in the track without it being too testing.  

“I guess we will have to make that call in the morning, whether we run tomorrow or wait for the Open 1200 at Te Rapa next week.”  

In-form gelding Pacifico will aim for three on the bounce at Ellerslie on Saturday, albeit with a hefty weight to carry in the Yourride 2100.  

A breakthrough stakes victory in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) followed by a gritty win last start has his rating up to 97, and the Ardrossan gelding will carry 61.5kg this weekend with Opie Bosson in the saddle.  

“He’s going really well, I can’t fault him and his work has been good,” Forsman said. 

“As he keeps winning, he keeps getting more weight, which will catch up with him at some point you’d think. But while he’s racing in good form, we’ll keep him going and see how we get on.  

“You’ve got to weigh up taking two or three kilos off or going with an experienced rider, which has worked for him in his last couple of starts.  

“We have that option up our sleeve next time around perhaps, if he doesn’t quite love the weight on Saturday, we may be looking for a good three or four-kilo claimer.”  

Younger stablemate Accentuate is shooting for a deserved winning result in the Elsdon Park 1400 after going down late to Bulgari at the venue last time out.  

“I think the best is yet to be seen of her, she’ll be a good four-year-old mare as she matures and she’s still got a lot of strengthening up to do,” Forsman said.  

“She’s got good ability and it would be nice to get another win with her this preparation. I think she had her chance last start, she was just beaten by a horse with a better turn of foot who had good form around it.  

“Hopefully she can go one better on Saturday, it’s a competitive race and a bigger field than we were expecting so if she can’t get the win, we may go for one more and look to send her out on a winning note.”