Racing: Forsman keeps on winning

Snapping up Jon Snow for just $65,000 was a highlight for Andrew Forsman. Photo / Bruno Cannatelli

If this is not a world record it's in the trifecta for sure.

When Ladynadel won at Ellerslie on Sunday she presented co-trainer Andrew Forsman with his 500th winner.

That the figure could be achieved in just five full seasons is astonishing. Okay, training in partnership with Murray Baker has helped, but to put it in perspective it needs to be remembered Bart Cummings, who turned out to be not too bad at it, did not produce one winner in his first two seasons of training.

And, perhaps even more remarkably, it all comes down to fate. Forsman did a course at university in Auckland studying television photography and had no real idea what he was exactly looking for as a career.

"I was studying and wasn't sure if I wanted to go into film or television and no set ideas."

He needed extra money and started working early mornings at Baker's Cambridge stable.

"I had a loose interest in racing through my family going back, but if you ask me did I have an idea I might become a trainer, absolutely not at all."

Fate can be quirky and 500 winners later it doesn't need to be said Forsman has not one regret, but don't for a minute think it hasn't been hard work. As they say, the dictionary is the only place where money comes before work.

As much as 35-year-old Forsman appreciates the opportunity Baker has afforded him, the feeling is mutual.

"Andrew has a great grasp of it [he racing industry]," Baker said. "He is an excellent communicator with our clients. I am very fortunate to have one of the really prominent emerging trainers standing alongside me."

The training partners are proud of their premiership record.

"With 107 winners last season we were short of our record of 114 the previous season, but we produced 19 stakes winners in New Zealand and five in Australia, which we've been told is a record," said Baker."

Forsman has tripped the light fantastic since his one year behind a Trackside Television raceday camera and one highlight trumps the rest.

"Buying Jon Snow on behalf of a syndicate for $65,000 and seeing him go on and win $2m and the Derby in Sydney has been very special."

Murray Baker's son Bjorn, rocking to great heights in Sydney's training ranks, was approached by a group of New Zealand mates to buy a horse for them.

"They didn't want it trained in Australia because they wanted to see it race so Bjorn told them to approach me to buy a horse on their behalf."

Call it fate.

Forsman and Baker have already started looking at yearlings for this year's Karaka sales, which start with the new Sunday session the day after the Karaka Million meeting at Ellerslie.

But before then they have more group ones in their sights, the next being the Thorndon Mile at Trentham with Love Affair on Saturday.

She has pleased the stable since missing the Rich Hill Mile because of the late change of track conditions at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, while they stable also has the joint second favourite for the Karaka Million in Espumoso.

"So it's a pretty exciting time of the year," said Forsman.