Andrew Forsman was quick to pass on the credit to others after Love Affair debuted impressively at Te Aroha yesterday.
Love Affair (Craig Grylls) opening her winning account in style at Te Aroha yesterday.
Forsman trains the three-year-old daughter of Savabeel in partnership with Murray Baker for Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, who bred and races the exciting youngster.
Love Affair was backed into favouritism for the NZ Bloodstock Pearl Series 1200 on the strength of wins in both her trials and, though she didn’t give her supporters an easy time, she won in the manner of a filly going places.
“We’ve only had her a few weeks and we’ve got to thank Katie and Dale Bussey and all the team at Waikato Stud,” said Forsman.
“They’ve done all the hard work and we’re the lucky recipients of a beautiful filly. Also Lynsey Satherley who did a good job educating her through the trials.”
Love Affair was first sighted at the Te Awamutu trials last December when winning over 850 metres and reappeared a month later when scoring over 800 at Te Aroha.
Though Satherley had been in the saddle in both trials, Craig Grylls picked up the raceday ride , but everything didn’t go to plan with the filly being second-last on the inner on settling and last on the home turn.
“She was meant to be on the pace and they only walked and ran home in 34 (seconds for the last 600m),” said Forsman. “I was very nervous. I gave her no show at the top of the straight.”
Love Affair was last on the inner straightening for the run home, but Grylls didn’t panic when she was held up. He angled her out around an inside runner and Love Affair wound up strongly inside the final 250 metres.
She drew clear inside the last 150 metres and won with her ears pricked, leading home a Cambridge-trained first four.
Elusive Meteor, from Trevor and Martin Cruz’s stable, fought well for second, a length behind Love Affair, with a long head to the Roger James-trainer Doubtless Bay in third spot, while Repeat from Stephen Marsh’s stable wound up fourth.
Though Love Affair is a relative newcomer to the Baker-Forsman stable the partners knew she was coming their way.
“I did get the heads up we were going to get her a while out so I had been keeping an eye on her and pretty keen when she turned up at our stables,” said Forsman.
Love Affair created such an impression she can be expected to quickly earn black-type.
