While Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman didn’t take out the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni last Saturday, they are excited for the future with talented two-year-olds Aretha and Holy Mongolemperor.

 

Aretha finished runner-up in the two-year-old feature, and while Holy Mongolemperor ran home late to finish eighth, their trainers believe both runners have big futures ahead of them.

 

“She’s a good filly, Aretha,” Baker said. “Her four starts have all been in Group races and she has won or placed in them all. 

 

“Holy Mongolemperor is very green. He lost his way a bit on Saturday unfortunately. 

 

“He stretched out a bit in the last 200m when he got going. He’s just more of a three-year-old, but we had to have a crack, it was a Group One. 

 

“We know he is a bit rough around the edges, but I am sure next season he will certainly be a horse to follow.”

 

 

A holiday in Rarotonga has Awapuni jockey Tim Johnson keen to resume his riding career.

 

Johnson ended his apprenticeship last October and continued to kick home winners with his total standing at 74, of which 12 have come this season. But he hasn’t ridden since the Wellington Cup meeting in January.

 

“I was finding it tough constantly needing to waste to ride at 54 and a half kilos week in and week out so I needed a break,’’ he said. 

 

“It was wearing me down, but just having the week in Rarotonga has got me focused again. I just need to work on my weight a bit. I put a bit on during the break and I just want to lose it the right way so it will be easier to manage.”

 

The highlight of Johnson’s career has been two black-type wins, the first aboard Longchamp when the combination completed a hat-trick of wins in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth in July 2016. His second black type win came three months later on Underthemoonlight in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera.