Mongolian Khan
Trish Dunell
The focus was on New Zealand's reigning Horse of the Year Mongolian Khan at Tuesday's Matamata trials and the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup winner revelled in the spotlight.
The four-year-old continued his impressive comeback from the severe colic attack that ended his spring campaign and a shot at the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup with a bold showing in his 1200 metre heat.
Mongolian Khan hit the line strongly for seventh and towed rider Opie Bosson for some distance after the finish – "I couldn't pull him up. He was strong the last bit and he's pretty well," he said.
Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and owner Lang Lin, who was in attendance, were equally delighted.
"He went well. He got back a bit and the rail is well out and he kept improving to the line," Baker said.
"In fact, he went around again but not very fast - just at a canter - because Opie couldn't stop him. He's done a bit and that should bring him on.
"He's on the way back and he looks terrific. We've worked him a couple of times with Turn Me Loose, who's a class act, and he's gone very well. We're happy enough at this stage."
Mongolian Khan will cross the Tasman later this month, although his exact destination has yet to be confirmed.
"He'll either go to the St George at Caulfield on the 27th or the Chipping Norton at Warwick Farm," Baker said.
"I don't think he'd be a big chance at a mile, they would probably go a bit quick for him at weight-for-age, but he'd certainly be okay at 2000m."
The Baker-Forsman stable were out in force at the trials and produced a quartet of two-year-old winners, including the highly-regarded Gasoline. He carries the Turn Me Loose colours and hasn't raced since he was successful at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. – NZ Racing Desk.
The four-year-old continued his impressive comeback from the severe colic attack that ended his spring campaign and a shot at the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup with a bold showing in his 1200 metre heat.
Mongolian Khan hit the line strongly for seventh and towed rider Opie Bosson for some distance after the finish – "I couldn't pull him up. He was strong the last bit and he's pretty well," he said.
Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and owner Lang Lin, who was in attendance, were equally delighted.
"He went well. He got back a bit and the rail is well out and he kept improving to the line," Baker said.
"In fact, he went around again but not very fast - just at a canter - because Opie couldn't stop him. He's done a bit and that should bring him on.
"He's on the way back and he looks terrific. We've worked him a couple of times with Turn Me Loose, who's a class act, and he's gone very well. We're happy enough at this stage."
Mongolian Khan will cross the Tasman later this month, although his exact destination has yet to be confirmed.
"He'll either go to the St George at Caulfield on the 27th or the Chipping Norton at Warwick Farm," Baker said.
"I don't think he'd be a big chance at a mile, they would probably go a bit quick for him at weight-for-age, but he'd certainly be okay at 2000m."
The Baker-Forsman stable were out in force at the trials and produced a quartet of two-year-old winners, including the highly-regarded Gasoline. He carries the Turn Me Loose colours and hasn't raced since he was successful at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. – NZ Racing Desk.