Positivity (NZ) Stars in SA Fillies’ Classic

Karaka graduate Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor) completed a trans-Tasman feature double with a commanding performance in Saturday’s A$170,000 Group Three Ken and Helen Smith SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) at Morphettville.

Trained by Andrew Forsman at Cambridge, Positivity has now earned A$294,095 from an eight-start career that has featured three wins and a second. She was bought by owner Ben Kwok for $160,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022.

Positivity burst on to the scene in early March with a Group Three victory on home soil, capturing the Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie. She went on to run second in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham, then finished close up behind the placegetters in Adelaide’s Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) before doubling her career black-type tally in Saturday’s staying feature.

There was no doubting Positivity’s superiority on Saturday. She was sent out as a $2.30 favourite and barely provided a moment’s doubt, settling in midfield before swooping around the home turn and lengthening stride in pursuit of Zambezi Khan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan).

Positivity’s turn of foot was too much for that rival to match in the straight, sailing past and clearing out to win by a length and three-quarters. The third placegetter finished almost four lengths behind the first pair.

Positivity was ridden by Damian Lane, who had intended to take up a more forward position but had to change plan when the filly went up in the air as the gates opened.

“I ended up much further back and had to ride her reverse, but we got the result and that’s all that counts,” he said. “She made her debut in December and this is still her first preparation, so it’s been a very good effort from her to hold her form through to this race. It’s a real credit to Andrew and his team for keeping her so fit and well for that long.”

Forsman indicated that a winter break is now likely for the daughter of Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor.

“I spoke to Damian this morning and said to be mindful that she has run her better races rolling along being up on pace,” he said. “That is how we wanted to do it today, but she bobbed in the air again when the gates opened today so he went to plan B and she was just the class horse of the field which got her out of trouble. But it was a good patient ride and stepping out to 2500 metres does help.

“I would think it is her last run for the preparation. She has done a lot. To go over to Melbourne and settle into a new environment, plus two trips back and forth to Adelaide, she has done a very good job to get to this point and I think she can have four or five weeks in the paddock now before a spring preparation.

“To be fair, this was her target race. Two weeks ago, she went into the Australasian Oaks off the back of a little bit of a freshen-up and a gap between runs. She boxed on okay, but that run was always going to set her up well for today and thankfully it has worked out.

“It is great for her owner Ben Kwok who puts a lot of investment into the industry in New Zealand and he is a good supporter of mine, so it is always great when you can get a result for him.”

Vendor	Woburn Farm
Purchaser	Mr B Kwok (Hong Kong)
Breeding	Almanzor – Pussy O’Reilly
Sale	Lot 511, Karaka 2022 Book 1, $160,000
Bred by	Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan & P J Walker