A long wait for Wolfgang’s day in the big-race spotlight came to a spectacular end at Trentham on Saturday when he overpowered his opposition in the Gr.3 NZCIS Wellington Cup (3200m).
“The way he was travelling coming into the straight, I knew it was going to take a nice horse to beat him. It’s a great training effort by Peter and Shaun.”
The Andrew Forsman-trained Mustang Valley was on a plane back to New Zealand on Sunday after an excellent run for fifth in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.
Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman has won two previous editions of the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) but will be looking to snare his first in a solo capacity when he heads to Randwick on Saturday.
Joe Smithies is hoping the rise to prominence of leading Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hope Goldman can be a boost for his young South Island-based sire Verdi.
Andrew Forsman has trained two previous victors of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in partnership with mentor Murray Baker, and he is hoping he can claim one in his own right at Te Rapa this weekend.
