The win of progressive stayer Spirit Of Baz at Ellerslie on Sunday brought back some fond memories for those associated with the four-year-old mare, who is the daughter of 2005 Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Bazelle.

 

Bred and raced by Lorna Moore, Bazelle won seven races including the Auckland Cup and the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) while she was also placed in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).

 

Her daughter Spirit Of Baz, who is also bred and raced by Moore, looks to have inherited plenty of her mother’s ability and is starting to make her mark as she strengthens and matures with Sunday’s victory over 2100m her fourth in a 13-start career and her second in succession over a middle-distance journey.

 

Co-trainer Andrew Forsman, who prepares the daughter of Charm Spirit with training partner Murray Baker, believes the mare has the ability to compete at a higher level, but not until she fully matures.

 

“That was quite a big step up in grade on Sunday as she was up against horses that have run in open company and she won very nicely,” Forsman said.

 

“She is bred to take time and thankfully her owners have let us do that with her and they are reaping the rewards now.

 

“We think she is a Cups horse of the future, but that is most likely still six months away.

 

“You never say never with horses, but at this stage we will try and take her through the grades rather than throw her in the deep end in a race like the Auckland Cup.

 

“She still needs to develop a little more mentally as well, but when she does she has all the attributes of a good horse.”

  – NZ Racing Desk