Kiwis up for Rosehill Guineas challenge

Written by Paul Vettise

Never ones to shirk a challenge, Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are eyeing a rematch with Australasia’s pin-up 3-year-old The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice).

While the Cambridge pair will harbour reservations about lowering his colours, they are ultra-confident they will have a fitter challenger when Madison County (NZ) (Pins) makes his next appearance.

“He will go to the Rosehill Guineas where the question mark will be the 2000 metres. If he gets it he’ll have to be a big chance,” Forsman said.

“The Autumn Sun will probably go there too, which won’t help but we’re really happy with our horse.”

On the evidence of what we have seen so far, Madison County looks sure to acquit himself extremely well.

Eye-catching run

The gelding caught the eye when he came from last on Saturday to finish fourth in the G1 Randwick Guineas off an interrupted preparation.

He missed a run in the G1 Herbie Dyke S. against the older horses at weight-for-age due to a pending sale to Hong Kong.

That subsequently fell through and the China Horse Club-owned Madison County went to Australia not having raced since he finished well for third in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic. He was back and wide at Ellerslie in a race that developed into a sprint home.

“He was coming off a six week break between runs on Saturday,” Forsman said. “He looked good, you couldn’t fault him the way he was presented, but he did need the run.”

Madison County was ridden at the weekend by Tommy Berry, who also predicted improvement from the horse next time out.

“He was really good. When The Autumn Sun quickened he got me off the bridle, but his last 100 metres was great,” he said.

Madison County’s performance in the Rosehill Guineas on Saturday week will dictate the rest of his autumn campaign.

“Depending what happens, he could go to the Derby two weeks after that or the Doncaster,” Forsman said. “He’s not nominated for the Derby, but a late payment could be made if he's running well enough.”

A star in New Zealand

Madison County has won four of his nine starts, including the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the G1 Levin Classic, and his stake earnings of more than $657,000 represents an impressive return on his NZ$36,000 purchase price. He was bought out of Waikato Stud’s Select Yearling Sale draft at Karaka in 2017.

His dam Red Delicious (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) was unraced and hadn’t left a winner at the time and, as all studs do, she was part of the culling process and was sold at the National Broodmare Sale three months later for NZ$1000.

The mare is now owned by Waikato breeders Craig and Steph Dunphy, whose thoroughbred interests are based at their Oakfield Farm, formerly Darley Park, on the outskirts of Cambridge.

“I didn’t go and look at the mare out the back at the sales,” Craig Dunphy told TDNAusNZ after Madison County had won the New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

“I saw her in the ring and I liked her pedigree, a good Waikato Stud family going back to Courtza. She was a nice type of mare and for that sort of money I thought why not.”

Red Delicious has since produced a filly by Atlante, which will be retained, and a colt by Jakkalberry (Ire). She has been left empty this year and, in the wake of Madison County’s emergence, may visit an Australian-based stallion next year.

Madison County is the only horse Baker and Forsman has at the Sydney carnival, although two more may join him.

“Zacada and Vin De Dance are possibilities to go over for the Sydney Cup,” Forsman said.

Zacada (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) has had two runs following a summer break and finished a last-start second in an open 2200 metre event last time out at Ellerslie, where he conceded the winner and stablemate Gundown (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) a hefty seven kilos.

Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) won the Listed Kaimai S. two runs back and was fifth in the G1 New Zealand S. on Saturday.