Love Affair
Kenton Wright Race Images
Fresh from being leading vendor at the Karaka Sales for the fourth year in succession, the team at Waikato Stud have plenty to get excited about on the track following the debut performance of Love Affair at Te Aroha on Thursday.
Off the back of two strong victories at the trials, Love Affair was sent out a $3 favourite in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m), but made favourite backers and connections alike sweat when getting further back than expected.
"It wasn't the plan to be so far back," Andrew Forsman said, who trains the three-year-old filly in partnership with Murray Baker.
"She was meant to be on-pace and they only walked. They ran home in 34 [seconds]. I was very nervous and gave her no show at the top of the straight, so it was a good effort.
"To be fair, we've only had her a few weeks. Dale and Katie Bussey and the team at Waikato Stud have done all the hard work and we're the lucky recipients of a beautiful filly.
"I did get the heads-up we were going to get her a little while out, so I had been keeping an eye on her and I was pretty excited when she turned up at the stable."
Forsman was also quick to thank rider Lynsey Satherley, who helped educate the filly.
A true Waikato Stud product, Love Affair is by champion sire Savabeel out of the O'Reilly mare Romancing, who is a full sister to the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes runner-up Salsa. – NZ Racing Desk
Off the back of two strong victories at the trials, Love Affair was sent out a $3 favourite in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m), but made favourite backers and connections alike sweat when getting further back than expected.
"It wasn't the plan to be so far back," Andrew Forsman said, who trains the three-year-old filly in partnership with Murray Baker.
"She was meant to be on-pace and they only walked. They ran home in 34 [seconds]. I was very nervous and gave her no show at the top of the straight, so it was a good effort.
"To be fair, we've only had her a few weeks. Dale and Katie Bussey and the team at Waikato Stud have done all the hard work and we're the lucky recipients of a beautiful filly.
"I did get the heads-up we were going to get her a little while out, so I had been keeping an eye on her and I was pretty excited when she turned up at the stable."
Forsman was also quick to thank rider Lynsey Satherley, who helped educate the filly.
A true Waikato Stud product, Love Affair is by champion sire Savabeel out of the O'Reilly mare Romancing, who is a full sister to the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes runner-up Salsa. – NZ Racing Desk