Written by Paul Vettise
Saint Emilion (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {IRE}) was back to his bold front-running best at Ellerslie where he foiled his more fancied stablemate to triumph in the G3 OMF S., on Tuesday.
The imposing grey has proved time and again he’s at his best when allowed to stride along in the lead and jockey Jonathan Riddell did exactly that to bring about the downfall of Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
While the latter was sent out a less than even money chance, the result was far from a surprise to Andrew Forsman, who trains the pair with Murray Baker.
“He’s got a high cruising speed and he doesn’t give in easily.” – Andrew Forsman.
“He’s got a high cruising speed and he doesn’t give in easily,” he said. “He was headed a fair way out, but we know how brave he is.”
It was Hello It’s Me (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who got to the front 250 metres from home, but she peaked on her run in the closing stages and it was Lizzie L’Amour, who came from the tail of the field, who took the runner-up cheque.
“When the tracks get firmer Lizzie can’t take a handier position,” Forsman said. “She can’t match them early and she gives herself too much to do.”
Saint Emilion winning the G3 OMF s.
Group 1 winner
Raced by the estate of his late breeder Robyn Horton, Saint Emilion has now won 15 races with his career highlight an all-the-way victory in the G1 New Zealand S., earlier this year.
“Weight-for-age racing suits his pattern so the obvious race to look at is the Zabeel Classic,” Forsman said.
“That’s a way off and whether there’s much in between for him I’m not sure, I haven’t really looked.”
Lizzie L’Amour’s effort after giving her barn mate a decent start at the top of the straight was sound and Forsman is unsure of her immediate racing future.
Saint Emilion as a yearling
