Awatere Goes Back to Back

Last start winner Awatere (3 g Charge Forward - Catbird Kitty, by Catbird) stepped up in grade to win the $60,000 Gingerbread Man Stakes, a Class 4 1400 metres, on Sunday at Kranji racecourse in Singapore.

Owned by Craig and Pip Forsyth, and their children Oli and Hannah, in Marlborough, victory a fortnight ago by Awatere gave Mark Walker his 400^th winner in Singapore, and further success extended his lead in the training premiership to five and a total of 36 this season.

Finding his rhythm from the outset, Awatere stalked two leaders in third at the 800m, was poised under Shafiq to challenge on straightening at the 400m and remained competitive in a tight finish after quickening to a narrow advantage with a furlong to run.

Once again on the turf, with Shafiq Rusof in the saddle, Awatere ran the 1400 metres in 1:22.7, last 600m in 36.1.  Returning generous odds of 19-1 when winning over 1200 metres, Awatere was again over the odds on the NZ TAB - $9.80 & $2.70.

“We had an exciting night, we're very happy, and the family was hugely rapt” said Craig Forsyth, after the win. “He won well. It was gutsy, and it's bloody exciting to get two in a row, especially carrying top weight and up in class.

“I thought he had (won). The bob of the head looked to be going the right way to the naked eye,” said Forsyth, of the nose margin result.

“The horse jumps and runs, gets into a position pretty nicely, but Shafiq is riding him well. He switched him off to settle a couple of lengths off them and it was quite brilliant, his ride.

The Forsyth family is planning a trip to see Awatere race in Singapore.

“I think Mark might just tick him over for a couple of weeks, knowing we're going there in mid-July, and hopefully we'll get to see him perform while we're there.”

Awatere was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $50,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, with a weanling half-brother by Iffraaj (Zafonic) selling at the NZB National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale earlier this month for $85,000.

“We just love winning races for people like Craig and Pip (Forsyth),” Ellis said. “They have been such loyal clients of Te Akau. Craig is a very successful accountant in Blenheim, and with his wife Pip and their two children they just love watching the races and they're great enthusiasts. We're really fortunate that they've chosen Te Akau to select and train their horses”.

A consistent performer, Awatere has now won four of his twelve starts and earned prize money of $151,557.

“It was a good effort, up to Class4 and 58 kilos,” Walker said. “It was quite a step up compared to last start. He's found his form after getting down in the grades, gained confidence from his last win and now he's gone back-to-back.

“It was a good, positive, ride by Shafiq. He travelled up third in a nice position, under no pressure, and they carted him into the race. He had the drop on them and just managed to stave off the fast finishers.  He was rated top of Class 4 for this race, so now he's Class 3 and it's a big step up again.

“I'll swim him for a couple of weeks to have him ready to race when Craig and his family are here. He'll potter around, with a fair bit of hand-walking, swimming, and the treadmill, and probably be ready to go fresh over 1200 metres on the turf again. He's a better horse on the turf.

“They're very good owners. Craig leaves the job to me, which makes things easy, and the horse is continuing to do well for everyone involved,” he said.