There’s a bit of trivia about the running of Saturday’s G2 Hobartville S. Two of the horses are million-dollar graduates of Magic Millions (King's Legacy and Prague), while another is undefeated at Randwick but has never won at Rosehill, his home track (Peltzer).
However, among the more quirky stories is Kiwi gelding Aegon. Owned by the Zame Partnership with trainer Andrew Forsman, he was named after the Game Of Thrones character Jon Snow, who also happened to be a horse (by Iffraaj (GB)) with whom the Zame family won the G1 Australian Derby in 2017.
Aegon lines up in Saturday’s Hobartville undefeated. Among his four lifetime starts is the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and R. Listed Karaka Million. The gelding has defeated Group 2 winner Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) and three-time Group-placed Bourbonaire (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). And, in heading to Sydney for an autumn campaign, he opted out of The All-Star Mile.
The gelding is the first top-shelf horse that Cambridge-based Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker, has part-owned.
“It makes things that little bit more special,” Forsman said. “To race Aegon in partnership with the Zame family, who have become very good friends and supported me through Jon Snow and a few other horses, it gives you just that little bit more of a buzz.”
Andrew Forsman and Murray Baker
Covid scuttles travel plans
Aegon flew to Sydney on Monday evening, settling in at Bjorn Baker’s yard at Warwick Farm. Forsman said Baker had rhythms and systems that were similar to his own, so horses always adapt well when they fly in. Forsman has been unable to join his star due to quarantine complications, as has been the case for foreman Aleisha Leeg, who would normally travel with the stable’s horses.
“Aleisha will make it over there early next week,” Forsman said. “Her plane got stopped last Sunday when we had a COVID-19 breakout in the community down here. But Bjorn knows how we like to train our horses, which is a massive plus, and everything has gone okay so far.”
"Bjorn (Baker) knows how we like to train our horses, which is a massive plus, and everything has gone okay so far.” - Andrew Forsman
Forsman said Aegon travels well. The horse’s trip to the NZ Guineas in November last year involved a plane trip, and the resultant few months of maturity has helped. But he added that the gelding can be quirky.
“He can sulk a little bit, this horse,” the trainer said. “Through his spring campaign he struggled a little bit physically, and we had to nurse him along. We turned him out into day paddocks to help him get through what turned out to be a pretty tough preparation, and that’s why we spaced his races.”
Aegon (NZ) (green silks, inside) winning the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic
Like sire, like son
Aegon is lightly raced for a 3-year-old. In comparison, his late sire Sacred Falls (NZ) had six starts before crossing the Tasman for a Sydney autumn with Chris Waller. In other respects, however, father and son have followed a similar trajectory. Sacred Falls was also undefeated when he arrived in Sydney in 2013 and, while he didn’t contest the Hobartville, he went through three defeats before a victory in the G1 Doncaster Mile on a Heavy 10 surface.
“We’re not too fussed if Aegon is beaten on Saturday,” Forsman said. “It’s more about us doing the right thing by the horse and giving him every chance to fulfill his potential. If that means he runs a nice third or fourth, and hits the line really hard, then we’ll be more than happy.”
“We’re not too fussed if Aegon is beaten on Saturday. It’s more about us doing the right thing by the horse and giving him every chance to fulfill his potential." - Andrew Forsman
Physically, there’s not much to the gelding. At 450kg, he’s on the small side and light on his feet. He isn’t as robust as some of his peers in Saturday’s field, among which are King’s Legacy (Redoute's Choice), Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) and Prague (Redoute’s Choice).
However, Forsman sees this a lot in Sacred Falls' stock, and believes maturity improves them. Additionally, the gelding is out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Toss Up (NZ), who was a mile-winner in New Zealand, so it’s fair to assume he will be a different 4-year-old.
Waikato through and through
Aegon is a true product of New Zealand’s highly successful Waikato Stud. The operation’s Chittick family bred, sold and stood Sacred Falls, while they also bred, raced and currently breed from Toss Up. The mare has had four foals (Aegon is her fourth), and all have been winners. She hails from the same family as Champion 3-year-old in New Zealand, Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}), and is currently in foal to hot sire Almanzor (Fr).
The late Sacred Falls (NZ)
Waikato put Aegon through the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, and the horse was purchased by Forsman for NZ$150,000.
“We do try to breed the best racehorses we possibly can, and a lot of those great racehorses come out of that price bracket,” Mark Chittick said. “I really take my hat off to Andrew. He selected that horse, put his money where his mouth was, stayed in the ownership and trained him to win the 2000 Guineas.”
Forsman seems to have a bloodstock agent’s eye for a good thoroughbred, especially when it comes to the Zame Partnership. In addition to Aegon, he also selected for the group Jon Snow (NZ) (Ifraaj {GB}) and the Listed Auckland Futurity S. winner Rhaegar (Pluck {USA}).
The Zame Partnership is headed up by spokesman Bart Zame and comprises of his brother and their two sons. They’ve had a lot of success in New Zealand, and the group will be hoping to add an Australian Group 2 win on Saturday.
