Instead of flying over for each run, Forde thought it would be wise to utilise his extensive contacts in Victoria and base himself in the Garden State where he could shear during the week and cheer on his pride and joy on the weekend. "I decided to come over because the horse had been going so well," he said. "I just thought instead of travelling back and forth, I might as well come over and do a few days' work in-between.
"I have done three weeks here now. In the first race he was in (Gr.2 Feehan Stakes, 1600m), where he ran fifth, we flew over and then flew home. After the next race I just stayed over here. "I'm currently not far from Inverleigh, which is about 40km out of Geelong. I'm shearing about four-and-a-half to five days a week and then I head down to Melbourne and support the horse."
While there is no let-up during the week, with Forde often shearing more than 250 merinos per day, he savours the chance to cheer on the Savabeel 4-year-old in the big smoke.
Forde's dedication paid dividends at Caulfield last start where The Chosen One took out the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), securing his ticket for the Caulfield Cup.
"It was a great win," he said. "He had a fourth-placing and a win up in Sydney in autumn, and we knew then we had something special. Things have just rolled on from there."
Forde is riding the crest of a wave with The Chosen One and admits he has been very fortunate being involved with a high quality horse so early on as an owner.
"I haven't been in racing that long, it's only been in the last three years," he said. "But my father was a horse trainer years ago and quite a bit of my family have been involved with horses over the years. "He's only my second horse, which is amazing. I couldn't be happier."
Forde said he experiences a similar thrill when watching his horse race in a Group One as he does when competing in a shearing competition.
"You still get the same sort of buzz," he said. "You can't control what a horse does sometimes whereas if I make a mistake in a shearing competition, there is only me to blame." While Forde has been in Victoria, his wife Julie has been operating their shearing business at home, and he is looking forward to her joining in the excitement this weekend.
"My wife is back home looking after the shearing run and she is going to join me this weekend for the race," he said. "Julie is going to be more excited than me, it's pretty much got us both hooked.
Forde is looking to remain in Victoria for a couple more weeks and is daring to dream of a possible Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) berth, with The Chosen One currently sitting 35th in order of entry for the great race.
"You just don't know, things are going pretty well at the moment. I wouldn't mind seeing the Melbourne Cup and then come home, we'll just play it by ear."
- NZ Racing Desk
