In the world of horse racing, the return of Mustang Valley at Te Rapa, New Zealand last month sent ripples of excitement through the racing community.
Trainer Andrew Forsman, known for his strategic approach, has chosen a steady path for this high-class daughter of Vanbrugh.
Mustang Valley is set to compete at New Plymouth, a calculated stepping stone toward two prestigious Group 1 races: the Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on September 30 and the Livamol Classic (2040m) at the same venue two weeks later.
Last spring, Mustang Valley made a memorable entry onto the Group One stage. She finished a close second in the Arrowfield, showcasing her incredible potential. Then, in a stunning performance, she powered down the Hastings straight to claim victory in the Livamol by a commanding five and three-quarter lengths.
Mustang Valley's comeback in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on August 26 was nothing short of impressive.
Despite facing stiff competition, she finished a strong sixth, just 1.9 lengths behind Dragon Leap and Skew Wiff, who went on to compete in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) last weekend.
While many might have been tempted to aim for a Group One race after such a promising first-up performance, Forsman remained steadfast in his original plan for a gradual build-up during the early part of the spring.
He explained, “I thought she was great in the Foxbridge…We considered the Tarzino, but we just thought that going to a 1400m race second-up against a field as tough as that might not be the right step at this early stage of her campaign.”
Instead, the team has opted for a softer option at New Plymouth, a choice that should allow Mustang Valley to perform at her best on a track with a bit more give. Forsman believes this strategy will set her on the right course for the upcoming Arrowfield and Livamol races.
In preparation for the New Plymouth race, Mustang Valley has been assigned 61kg in an open handicap field, but Forsman has enlisted the help of apprentice jockey Triston Moodley to reduce her weight to 57kg.
As a +140 favourite for Saturday's race, she is also prominently positioned in the TAB's fixed-odds markets for the Arrowfield and Livamol.
Mustang Valley leads a formidable five-strong team of runners in New Zealand for Forsman this weekend, with the additional presence of course specialist Turn The Ace at Te Rapa. Turn The Ace has a remarkable track record at Hamilton, boasting five wins from eight previous visits.
Across the Tasman, Forsman will have another contender in action as Aegon lines up in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Aegon's recent performances have shown promise, and Forsman believes the step up to 1600m should play to his strengths.
He commented, “He really needs a good, genuinely run race…hopefully, he'll show up there on Saturday with his best form.”