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Andrew Forsman


Hesi

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Comment from Andrew Forsman

The 39-year-old is positive about the New Zealand industry as a nurturing ground for Australian raids and has no intentions of being permanently based in Australia.

“I would like to stay based in New Zealand. It is great to have Australia so accessible, it props us up for sure as an industry in New Zealand,” Forsman said.

“New Zealand racing is very competitive and I don’t think people understand how good the horse people are and how good our horses are. Sometimes you just have to back yourself and think that if you have got a horse good enough you can come over here and compete.

“It is not too hard to get here and be based here and hopefully it is something we can do more of in the future.” 

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Has Forsman been featured on mainstream media? I don't think many realize what a fantastic Saturday it was. Getting 3 on Caulfield Cup day not even Waterhouse or Waller could do that but then win one of NZ's iconic races just amazing.

Syd Brown took Darryl's Joy, Woodcourt Inn plus Hamua to plunder the Victorian carnival but Forsman is surpassing that.

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On 10/17/2022 at 10:53 AM, Hesi said:

Comment from Andrew Forsman

The 39-year-old is positive about the New Zealand industry as a nurturing ground for Australian raids and has no intentions of being permanently based in Australia.

“I would like to stay based in New Zealand. It is great to have Australia so accessible, it props us up for sure as an industry in New Zealand,” Forsman said.

“New Zealand racing is very competitive and I don’t think people understand how good the horse people are and how good our horses are. Sometimes you just have to back yourself and think that if you have got a horse good enough you can come over here and compete.

“It is not too hard to get here and be based here and hopefully it is something we can do more of in the future.” 

Well so much for his loyalty to NZ racing, it was all humbug, but I guess you can't blame him

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7 minutes ago, Hesi said:

Well so much for his loyalty to NZ racing, it was all humbug, but I guess you can't blame him

To be fair at the time of the previous statement he may have had no intention.  It becomes a different equation when there’s an actual offer or opportunity on the table. 

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Thanks, so Bensley got it wrong.

A lot more workable plan, does not leave his owners in the lurch, and is still basically part of the NZ racing scene

And begins later this year, not March

Forsman to operate Victorian stable

By
 NZ Racing Desk
 -
January 4, 2023
 
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Trainer-Andrew-Forsman-left-with-Harry-C Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman (pictured left) will have a small satellite stable at Macedon Lodge to complement his New Zealand operation Photo: Brett Holburt - Racing Photos

Andrew Forsman has taken a significant step toward building on past successes in Australia with the announcement he will extend his training operation to a base in Victoria.

The Cambridge horseman has secured boxes at the famed Macedon Lodge, formerly owned by leviathan owner Lloyd Williams until the complex’s sale last year to businessman and equestrian enthusiast Bruce Dixon.

While a number of details have yet to be worked through, Forsman expects his tenure to begin later this year.

“I have been looking for a while, but for a satellite stable it’s not straight forward to try and find the right fit,” he said.

“This opportunity presented itself and was well worth looking into and I’m keen to give it a go.

“We will probably be doing it on a trial basis for six months or so and we’ll start off with a small team and see if we can make it work.

“It will be later into the autumn that I would be looking to move any horses. It is probably not a bad time to get the systems going and see how it works logistically.”

The state-of-the-art Macedon Lodge has regularly housed up to 100 horses, has more than 15 kilometres of tracks, a 75-metre horse pool, 25 grass day yards, 20 spelling paddocks, a water-walker and a specialised lighting facility for convalescing horses.

The property also has on-site accommodation for staff, office facilities, entertainment areas and a staff café.

“Initially I will be looking to have about 10 horses there and there will be room to expand if it is all working okay,” Forsman said.

Macedon Lodge is located 60km north-west of Melbourne and approximately 50 minutes by road from Flemington and has produced Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winners Efficient (2008), Green Moon (2012) and Almandin (2010) for Williams while Ethereal (2000) and Fiorente (2013) also used the facility ahead of their Flemington victories.

While a Melbourne Cup winner for Robert Hickmott, Almandin was prepared from Macedon Lodge by Liam Howley for the latter part of his racing career which included a victory in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m).

Howley, who has trained successfully from Kyneton, will also be training from his old base at Macedon Lodge.

“I imagine Liam will have 40 odd and I hope to have 10 initially to start of with. Bruce Dixon is keen to improve and build more boxes and there will be more scope for more trainers to go in there,” Forsman said.

“I went and had a look over there in December and one of the best things is that it’s like your own property and lots of training options with the good facilities on offer.

“It’s handy enough to the airport and the horses can be off the float and into their boxes quite quickly.

“It has an uphill gallop which is excellent and I love the fact that there are big paddocks for the horses and it is a very casual and laid-back environment that will see horses thrive.”

Decisions on which members of his team will be based at Macedon Lodge will be made in the coming months and he is currently working through staffing requirements, which will most likely see some of his senior staff in New Zealand transfer.

“Things can change with people over the next few months and I will be very reliant on the staff who are there,” Forsman said.

“It is important that they are people I know and can trust and know how I like to train the horses and can carry on the work we have done with them here.”

Forsman savoured multiple feature race successes during his decade-long training partnership with Murray Baker, for whom he worked for the best part of ten years prior to training in partnership.

The duo celebrated 25 Group One victories at home and across the Tasman, most notably with Mongolian Khan in the Caulfield Cup (2400m), while the pair also notched four New Zealand Trainers’ Premierships in that time.

Forsman hit the ground running in his own right with Mustang Valley delivering a first solo Group One win when successful in the Livamol Classic (2040m) and he also enjoyed a successful spring in Melbourne last year.

Shes-Licketysplit-Brett-Holburt-Racing-P High-class filly She’s Licketysplit Photo: Brett Holburt – Racing Photos

Three-year-olds She’s Licketysplit and Mr Maestro spearheaded his team with the former winning the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and finished third in both the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m).

Mr Maestro won three races, including the Gr.3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) and the Listed Super Impose Stakes (2000m) before he finished fourth in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m).

Aegon claimed the Gr.3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield the same day as Mr Maestro won the Classic while Saint Bathans triumphed in a A$150,000 event on the undercard following an earlier win at Sandown.

“The success we had in Melbourne in the spring certainly was a big help. We got a lot of exposure and the team went well,” Forsman said.

“Mr Maestro is back in work and he will trial at Tauranga on January 17 and will more than likely resume in the Autumn Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) on February 11 at Sandown.

“She’s Licketysplit will trial at Tauranga on the same day and whether she goes to Sydney or Melbourne is still to be decided.”

Forsman stressed that Cambridge would continue to be his main base.

“It is a brilliant facility, one of the best in Australasia,” he said.

“I have a good ownership base in Australia that were keen to support me if I could set up some sort of stable there. I know that there are a number of New Zealand based owners that would love to have the opportunity to race on a more consistent basis in Melbourne as well.

“It gives you a second option which is great. New Zealand Racing still has its place and there is a lot of good racing here that suits most horses and it is a terrific place to bring them through.

“But there will be the odd horse, especially through April until the tracks start to improve in the later part of the spring where there are really good opportunities in Melbourne for horses that have struck form and are lacking opportunities in New Zealand.

“We’re testing the waters over there and it is very exciting and hopefully I can make it work logistically.”

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15 hours ago, Hesi said:
“But there will be the odd horse, especially through April until the tracks start to improve in the later part of the spring where there are really good opportunities in Melbourne for horses that have struck form and are lacking opportunities in New Zealand.

 

What does this mean?

April is autumn not spring.

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I read it to mean, that there are limited opportunities in NZ over the Winter months for a horse that is better suited to drier tracks, so he is offering this as a string to his bow, to race in Melbourne, where i presume the tracks are generally not boggy like they can become in NZ.

I think what he has managed to arrange is a master move on his part, that will see him get a lot more horses to train.  He is going to be a busy boy, I hope he doesn't plan on having too much social life.

He has also kept his commitment to NZ racing

I read elsewhere, that he does not owe racing in NZ anything

I disagree

Regardless of what people think about the hierarchy, racing in NZ has been built up by many people over many years.  It is that infrastructure that has given him the opportunity to blossom and show his talent.  Absolutely, he has put in a lot of work.

That would apply to anyone who has started their racing career here then done well overseas

They should remember that is was the grass root set up of racing here that facilitated their success initially, and give back.  Some do, many don't

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Satellite stables have a history of failure, it is simply too tough between 2 countries

Better he concentrates solely on a Mlb stable with feeder relationships with NZ stables.

Mlb Vic is a bloody tough gig and 100% on site concentration a must. Being divided will make it much harder.

Wish him the very best, but IMHO has put a hurdle in front of him. It is all duck no dinner in Mlb

 

 

 

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Fair point also

I guess it comes back also to how good his 2IC and other key support staff are

Not the exact comparison, but you may recall how the Mike Moroney stable in NZ went downhill when they did not have the quality staff in place, which they now have.

I watched the Macedon Lodge videos, wow, he has scored himself a real facility and a half there

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He goes with my very best wishes Alan, just wish he concentrates solely on Mlb, to kick start the move.

After 6 months with a few Saturday wins he will review I am sure, Mlb Saturdays versus NZ Picnic meetings ... pretty simple decision

Edited by Turny
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Well he has a dollar each with the proposed set up

As some have alluded to, being successful in Aus, does not come as a given.  There are thousands of very good horse people there

John Sargent was a leading light here, but just another of many good trainers in Aus

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Your last sentence sums it up pretty well, and dare I say it Mlb is a much tougher gig than NSW. 

Meantime we can enjoy our Picnic Meetings like the one at Reffton today, take out 3 trainers and there would be no meeting. We are in great shape here, thank God I have 4 trips to Oz this year, meeting up with our racing nut Thommo

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