The stable believed it had Sports Illustrated fit enough for Te Rapa last start, but according to Forsman that may not have been the case.
"She got around to the start and had a big sweat and a real think about it and raced well below her best when we thought she could win."
Forsman says Sports Illustrated's work since that race has been absolutely top class.
Craig Grylls is riding Sports Illustrated and Jonathan Riddell has picked up the mount on Diademe.
Two starts back Diademe showed appreciation of a slight yield in the Ellerslie track to return to winning form in the Westbury Classic.
It was thought the rain-affected track for the Japan International at Tauranga subsequently might suit her, but it's clear that wasn't the case. She was beaten a long way out.
"It's obvious now that while she doesn't like a hard track, a track that is cut up a bit false like Tauranga is right against her."
Rain took the Te Aroha track into the slow zone early in the week, but beautifully fine weather is bringing it back nicely and it should be close enough to suit all horses by Saturday.
"That should be perfect type of track for Diademe," said Forsman.
The $200,000 stake and the group one status have understandably drawn a terrific field, attracting Southern mares Include and The Diamond One.
After winning the race immediately following the Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Atacama returned home to chase Sports Illustrated in the Cal Isuzu at Te Rapa then worked home strongly into a close third in the 1400m Westbury Classic behind Diademe.
On that run, she should be better suited by the step to 1600m this time and has had a nice gap between races, which seems to suit her best.
The Diamond One and Include add another element to the line-up. The Diamond One showed she was up to North Island form by winning the Cuddle Stakes at this distance at Trentham last start, but Include is difficult to assess.
She has stylishly won her last five straight in the South Island, but her only North Island appearance resulted in a well-beaten eighth in Miss Mossman's Oaks at Trentham last March.
Certainly the horses she has been beating would be unlikely to figure in this race, but then you can only beat what they put you up against.
Spellbinder came back to her brilliant form with a runaway Te Rapa win last start. The more yield in the Te Aroha track on Saturday the better her chances.
Arrow In The Sand is one of the most progressive horses in the North.
This is a huge step up for her and she would be better suited if the race was run as a handicap, because she would be getting weight relief from the favourites, instead of carrying 57kg. She will give a good sight though.
