Forte solidified his status as Kentucky Derby favourite with his sixth victory in seven career starts in the Florida Derby on Saturday [April 1] – and he’s now cracked the world’s Top 5 on Thoroughbred Racehorse Commentary’s Global Rankings.
Although he was sent off a 3-10 chance for the G1 contest, this was far from a straightforward exercise for the son of Violence, who was drawn wide in a double-figure field and then raced towards the rear on the outside.
Indeed, Irad Ortiz was seemingly at work from the early stages and Forte looked to have plenty on his plate with three lengths to make up in the final furlong before running down eventual runner-up Mage with a sustained gallop to score by a length.
As such, this was solid rather than spectacular – but it looked a race Forte could easily have lost and he probably embellished his reputation.
“I was worried,” admitted trainer Todd Pletcher. “He had a lot to do turning for home. He had to angle out really wide and kind of got a wide trip all the way around there, but he had a pretty smooth run it; he just had to lose a lot of ground to do it.
“It looked like he had a lot to do still at the eighth pole but then really kicked in the last part and found his best stride the last sixteenth.”
Forte closing in on world Top Ten after Gulfstream comeback
At first glance Forte’s jump to world #4 (from #10, +190pt) may seem a little exaggerated given the bare form, but it is worth remembering that he now has no fewer than four G1 successes to his name, including last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
“He just continues to amaze us,” added Pletcher. “He gets better and better. He handled the stretch-out to a mile an eighth great and actually probably ran a mile and three-sixteenths today. It gives you a lot of confidence moving forward. He got a lot of experience today.”
Also moving up the charts is Angel Of Empire (#22 from #138, +272pt), who currently ranks as Forte’s main Kentucky Derby market rival following a comfortable victory in the G1 Arkansas Derby. There will be further movers in this division at the weekend when the remainder of the main Derby preps are scheduled.
Elsewhere, front-running Jack D’Or (#10 from #72, +262pt) possibly benefits a shade from the towering strength of Japanese form overall for his massive jump after winning the G1 Osaka Hai, in which he held on by a nose from dual Classic winner Stars On Earth.
However, this was a record time for the race and, while the five-year-old flopped in Hong Kong in December and had never before scored at the top level, some of his back form bears close scrutiny – notably a G2 victory last year over Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa in the Sapporo Kinen. Jack D’Or was also fewer than two lengths behind world leader Equinox in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).
Another big weekend in Sydney resulted in nice moves for G1 scorers Mr Brightside (#27 from #34, +67pt ) and I Wish I Win (#28 from #90, +206pt) on Day 1 of The Championships.
On heavy ground at Randwick, Mr Brightside followed up his recent All-Star Mile success with a narrow verdict over former William Haggas-trained My Oberon in the time-honoured Doncaster Mile, while Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win claimed the TJ Smith Stakes for Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody.
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