Andrew Forsman has a high opinion of Ole Ole but he's holding off on his chants of approval ahead of the inaugural $101,000 Taranaki Challenge (1400m) at New Plymouth tomorrow.
The Cambridge trainer races the stakes-placed Makfi three-year-old gelding with Auckland breeder Brett Wilkinson and is excited to have a runner in New Zealand's richest special conditions maiden. But Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker, doesn't share the confidence of TAB bookmakers who have installed Ole Ole a $3.50 favourite for the race on the back of his comprehensive last-start maiden win at Woodville.
"I just think the track will be too heavy for him especially against some of those older, more experienced ones."
Track conditions at Pukekura Raceway were rated as heavy 11 yesterday and while Ole Ole has now won on a heavy track and run second in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Pukekohe on a heavy 10 track, it's evident that he is a more potent racehorse on better footing.
"If he measured up here, we'd think about taking him to Sydney for races like the Gloaming Stakes and Spring Champion Stakes," Forsman said.
"We think he'll get up over ground and back to his own age group, he'll be competitive. But this opportunity came up and he's definitely worth having a go with."
