Form Queensland trainer Desleigh Forster believes the former Kiwi Poste Restante and an ex-French stayer Le Roi are the standouts in a lacklustre Summer Cup at Rosehill on Boxing Day.
Forster was talking about her mare Poste Restante and rival South Australian trainer Tony McEvoy’s Le Roi which has won three from five since arriving from France earlier in the year.
“Tony’s horse and mine are the two interesting runners in what doesn’t look a very strong race,” Forster said on Tuesday.
“Both these horses are on the way up.”
Forster’s team of 10 horses, which are trained out of Eagle Farm, are in devastating form. From her last six runners she has won five races while there have been 11 city winners from her last 25 starters.
They include Adebisi, which may well be the fastest horse in training having blitzed rivals to win last Saturday’s Razor Sharp at Warwick Farm, while Forster’s galloper I’m Cool won at Doomben some 10 minutes later.
“You take it while you can,” Foster said when asked about the successful run.
“It has taken a bit of hard work but all is going good. A few will probably head out now, Poste Restante being one after he races on Wednesday.
“Adebisi might go home and have a couple of weeks off while there are a few others in the stable that could go out.”
Formerly prepared by Kiwi-trainer Howie Matthews Poste Restante has been a revelation under Foster’s care.
“Howie recommended to the owners that she spell in Queensland after the last winter carnival,”Foster said.
“She spelled out a client of mines place, Dougie Forbes, and that’s how I ended up with her.
“She probably should have won all five starts she has had for me, one race over 1350m at Doomben wasn’t run to suit, they went to slow for her.”
After winning first-up at Doomben Poste Restante was fourth at the same track and after a three week let-up returned to win her past three starts at Eagle Farm.
“I think she is looking for the 2400m on Wednesday and the good thing about her is she has a good turn of foot at the end of her races,” Forster said.
The only concern amounted to how Poste Restrante would travel from Brisbane to Sydney.
“The biggest worry was the travel,” Forster said.
“She travelled down with Adebisi last Thursday and hasn’t missed a beat.
“She did a bit of solid work this morning at Randwick and I reckon she is just about ready for the Summer Cup.”
As for Christmas celebrations Forster reckons “I might do the accounts” while adding “I have had a few offers for lunch”.
By Craig Young
