The winning run of trainer Andrew Forsman continued at Tauranga on Saturday when promising three-year-old Devastate came from last on the home bend to take out the Bayleys Bay Of Plenty 3YO (1400m).
The well related son of Vadamos was having just his third start after finishing runner-up at Otaki on debut before breaking his maiden status over 1300m at Matamata last month.
Despite missing the start by a length, Devastate travelled comfortably for rider Ashvin Goindasamy on the improving Heavy 10 surface and looked to be under a strong grip as the field fanned wide approaching the home turn.
Goindasamy gambled on an inside run and it presented itself at the 250m as Devastate shot through to take control of proceedings and ease clear to win by a neat length from pacemakers Rionach and Sedaka who dead-heated for second.
Forsman was pleased with the win and the way his charge extended through the line at the finish.
“He was a little bit tardy at the start but got a soft run in behind them on a slow pace,” he said.
“He did it pretty well in the end and looks a progressive type of horse on the evidence to date.
“There has been plenty of interest in him so far and now he has qualified for Hong Kong I expect the phone will ring a little harder.”
Purchased by Bloodstock Agent Bruce Perry for $160,000 out of the Carlaw Park Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2021, Forsman is keen to extend his charge over more distance in the future as he holds a nomination for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March.
“He is nommed for the Derby, but as those nominations are such a long time before the race they don’t mean much at this time of the year when they haven’t gone over ground at all,” Forsman said.
“He is a type that looks likely to get a mile at least so that is where I think we might go next with him.
“A race like the Wellington Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) at Otaki later in the month looks ideal and if he handles that then we can look to step him up over 2000m.”
Out of the Pins mare Passion Cut, Devastate comes from an extended family littered with staying prowess including Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Don Eduardo, Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) winner Tristalove and Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) winner Viking Ruler.