3 minute read

Team-work has been the key factor behind the all-conquering season of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

The Cambridge trainers rewrote New Zealand turf history at Matamata on Wednesday when one of the lesser lights of the stable, Dentelle, provided them with their record 112th winner of 2014-15.

Their tally surpassed by one the 2011-12 performance of John Sargent, who subsequently closed his Matamata operation to concentrate on his Sydney stable.

“A month ago I wouldn’t have said we would get the record,” Forsman said. “It’s hard training winners at this time of the season, but things have worked in our favour and it’s all credit to the staff and the owners.

“We’ve also had the right riders and Matt Cameron has done a great job for us. From the vets to the farriers as well, it’s been a massive team effort.”

Forsman was on course at Matamata to savour the moment with his senior training partner away on holiday.

“It’s the culmination of a lifetime of work for Murray to have built the stable up to this. Something we also pride ourselves on is doing our best for our owners and that shows in our strike rate.”

Baker and Forsman’s 112 winners have come at a remarkable rate of 4.82, the best of any trainer in top 70 on the premiership.

They have also dominated on the score of black type success with 17, better than double their closest rivals.

Among their flagship performers have been the dual Gr.1 New Zealand and ATC Derby winner Mongolian Khan, the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas Turn Me Loose, Diademe, successful in the Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes winner Sakhee’s Soldier and Dal Cielo, victorious in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes.