Homebred bound for international stage

The well-travelled Aegon is heading to Hong Kong for a crack at the G1 Champions’ Mile at Sha Tin on April 30.

Connections will forego another crack at an Australian feature in favour of a trip further afield with their Waikato Stud-bred and sold son of the late Sacred Falls.

“We found out officially today after getting the heads up a couple of days ago. We were going to run him in the G1 Doncaster H., but when Hong Kong came up we accepted that,” trainer and part-owner Andrew Forsman said.

“It’s probably going to be a small field, which will suit him, with a few likely to run away from Golden Sixty.”

It will still be a formidable test for Aegon as local hero Golden Sixty has won 24 of his 28 starts, including the last two editions of the Champions’ Mile.

Aegon was unplaced last time out in the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley but had taken no harm from the outing and still earned A$100,000 for his effort.

“He’s come through the race well so he’ll go to Hong Kong. We nominated for the 2000m race (G1 QEII Cup) as well, but the mile will be better for him,” Forsman said.

“It will be a great experience if nothing else and he’ll run there and then go to the paddock.”

Forsman went to $150,000 at Karaka to purchase Aegon, a son of the Zabeel mare Toss Up who had a Tivaci colt last year before a return visit and she is from the family of the stud’s three-time Group 1 winner Daffodil.