"He was second favourite, so there was a bit of money invested, they couldn't take the risk to let him start, but he hasn't missed any work and seems fine, so we are all good to go and hopefully he travels sensibly on Saturday."
Last Saturday's withdrawal has continued Madison County's bad spate of luck in recent times.
"Nothing has gone right," Forsman said. "The pending sale fell over and because of that, he missed a run in the Herbie Dyke [Group 1, 2000m] and missed the run leading into the Randwick [Guineas, 1600m] and now he's missed the run in the Rosehill Guineas. It certainly hasn't been plain sailing, but all that being said, he is very well."
Madison County is likely to be met by similar wet track conditions to last weekend at Rosehill today, but Forsman is hoping the track will improve a bit before they jump.
"It was very testing that track last Saturday and hopefully it improves a little bit and isn't such a holding sort of track," he said.
"I'm a little bit unsure as to how he will handle it, but he has worked up well on wet tracks before."
The son of Pins has drawn the visitor's barrier in the 10-horse field but that doesn't overly concern Forsman, who is expecting a strong showing from his talented galloper.
"It is a bit awkward [the barrier]," Forsman said. "His pattern of racing is to get back and just to find his feet a little bit, but I guess it's only a 10-horse field and it will be interesting to see how the track plays after that racing on Saturday.
"I am picking they will come to the middle of the track pretty quickly anyway, so it shouldn't be too much of a disadvantage.
"The Kiwis are probably the ones to beat, and outside of that, it drops away. We would be pretty disappointed if he wasn't running top three. It will just be interesting to see how he runs out the 2000m."
Meanwhile, Baker and Forsman will have a two-pronged attack in the Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni today.
They will line up talented colt Holy Mongolemperor and Group2-winning filly Aretha in the juvenile feature and they are excited about both their runners' chances.
"Aretha and Holy Mongolemperor are two really good chances in the two-year-old race," Forsman said.
"I'm quite looking forward to seeing how Holy Mongolemperor steps up to the 1400m. It was a really good effort at Trentham [when runner-up to Equinox over 1200m]. He's a colt with a lot of ability that seems to be improving all the time."
Forsman said he was pleased with both runners heading into the race and finds it hard to split the pair, with Holy Mongolemperor drawing eight and Aretha nine.
"On a fast track, it's hard to know," Forsman said. "Aretha has been very good on rain-affected ground. They have both drawn awkwardly.
"She's got tactical speed, so she can jump and put herself on the pace, whereas he will get back, but I think if he gets a clear run, the colt could come with a big finish. I am pretty happy with where he is at going into it."
The Baker-Forsman barn will also line up Group 1 winner Saint Emilion in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) later on the card.
Forsman said he had been pleasing but luckless in his last few starts and is hoping the wet weather forecast for Palmerston North will stay away.
"He's really well. He has been going well for a while now, he just hasn't had things to suit on race day unfortunately," Forsman said.
"If the weather holds, he will get things to suit. Hopefully he can jump, roll along and try and get back in the winner's circle."
Meanwhile, impressive last start winner Spring Delight looms as the stable's leading chance in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m).
She will line up alongside in-form stablemates The Chosen One, Nordic and Lord Arthur.
"The filly, Spring Delight, was pretty impressive last week [at Tauranga]," Forsman said.
"I think the key is that she has drawn barrier two, whereas all the boys, while they are all going well, have drawn awkward barriers, and the 2000m start is a big run to sort yourself out before that first bend, so they're going to need a bit of luck.
"She seems to have bounced through her impressive win in good order, so I guess on the strength of a good barrier draw and knowing that she will get a good run, she is probably the benchmark of the four."
- NZ Racing Desk
