Familiar Path Mapped Out for Aegon

Aegon’s race career looks set to mirror that of his sire Sacred Falls for a little while yet, with a trip to the Sydney autumn carnival on the way, reports NZ Racing Desk. Andrew Forsman, who trains the gelding in partnership with Murray Baker, said Aegon wouldn’t race in New Zealand again this season following his fighting victory over the top filly Amarelinha in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). Aegon will leave New Zealand shores next month with an unbeaten record, as Sacred Falls did when he headed to Sydney in 2013. Though they did not take identical paths, both numbered the Gr1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) among their New Zealand victories. And like Sacred Falls, Aegon is set to contest at least the first two legs of the Sydney 3YO Triple Crown: the Gr1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 6 and the Gr1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 20. His performances in those races, particularly the Rosehill Guineas, will determine whether he heads for the Gr1 Australian Derby (2400m) on April 3, a race Baker has won five times, or follow the Sacred Falls path to the Gr1 Doncaster Mile (1600m). Aegon’s jockey Leith Innes said after the Karaka Million that 1600m would probably be Aegon’s best distance, but Forsman said they will test him at further. “I think we will give him his chance to get over ground, and that will probably mean a 2000m race,” said Forsman who revealed the team had considered heading to Melbourne for the Gr1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on February 27, but that is a less likely option. Aegon could have one run prior to the Randwick Guineas, with the Gr2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on February 20 the likely option.