In the past two seasons, Karaka graduates have claimed 70% of all Group One Derby races in Australasia, and Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington unveiled a promising contender to add to that outstanding record.
Mr Maestro (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a $100,000 purchase by Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, outclassed his 11 rivals in Saturday's three-year-old feature and has now earned A$181,379 in an eight-start, three-win career.
The son of Savabeel showed promise in his homeland in the autumn, scoring a maiden win at Avondale and placing in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe, but he has gone to a whole new level in Australia this spring.
Fifth and fourth in his first two appearances over short distances in August, Mr Maestro has been unbeaten in two subsequent starts, both at Flemington and both over 1800 metres.
Saturday's Super Impose Stakes was by far the most impressive, effortlessly striding to the lead early in the home straight and putting his rivals to the sword. Jockey Damian Lane eased him up inside the 100 metres, but he still cruised past the finish line with a two-length margin up his sleeve.
"It was a solid clip throughout, and as the leaders started to get a little tired, he just towed me into the race and was travelling so well turning for home," Lane said.
"His improvement since he's been here has been quite incredible. When he turned up at Sandown for his first run here, he was a little bit heavy, and he was woolly with a New Zealand winter coat on him. He ran well there, but I couldn't have foreseen the improvement that he's made. Just each run he's improved, particularly the last two and particularly last run to this run.
"He just looked magnificent in the yard, and even going around to the start he just felt really switched on. He's such a green horse that he's learning all the time and I think that's helping his improvement even further."
Mr Maestro capped a special day at Flemington for Forsman, who also picked up a Group Two win earlier in the afternoon with his Group One-winning filly She's Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose).
"It's been a great day, two for two and I'm really rapt with how the team's going here," Forsman said. "Eva Brennan is here, she's done a magnificent job, she's been here the whole time, I've only been backwards and forwards, so she's done all the hard work and a lot of the credit goes to her.
"I think Mr Maestro actually looked better in his action on top of the ground today, which is great going forward. We haven't locked in any other races yet, but we'll just pick out whatever suits him best going into the Derby."
Mr Maestro is out of Let Me Roar (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), a half-sister to Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home). Also trained by Forsman in partnership with the now-retired Murray Baker, Let Me Roar won six races and placed in the Group Two Easter Handicap (1600m).
| Vendor | Windsor Park Stud |
| Purchaser | Mr AC Forsman (Waikato) |
| Breeding | Savabeel – Let Me Roar |
| Sale | Lot 509, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $100,000 |
| Bred by | Windsor Park Stud |
