Forzanini chasing an emotional win on birthday of late owner Nini Vascotto

Emotions will flow if Forzanini can win at Randwick on what would have been Nini Vascotto’s 46th birthday.

Forzanini will be running at Randwick on Saturday on what would have been late owner Nini Vascotto’s 46th birthday. Picture: Bronwen Healy

Forzanini has the irresistible forces of sentiment and goodwill riding with her as she strives for an emotion-charged win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Forzanini is contesting the Yarraman Park Handicap (1000m) on the same day that what would have been the 46th birthday of her late owner, Nini Vascotto.

Tragically, Nini passed away in August, 2021, after a decade-long battle with cancer.

The last time Nini was at the racetrack was the day Forzanini won her maiden at Randwick about two months before her passing.

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Her health was in decline at the time but she wasn’t going to miss that race.

She even had her cancer treatment delayed for a couple of hours that day so she could make it to the track.

“I remember when Forzanini won her first race,’’ Peter Snowden said.

“Nini was there to see it and that was a big thrill for everyone.’’

Forzanini goes to Randwick after a close second behind Kir Royale at Rosehill, her first race since July last year.

Nini’s devoted husband, Murray Conallin, shares in the ownership of Forzanini and will be trackside when the mare races on Saturday.

“She went really well first-up, we were very pleased,’’ Conallin said.

“I nearly yelled down the Bourke Street TAB when she almost won.’’

Conallin joked he might yell the roof off the grandstand if Forzanini can win on Nini’s birthday.

Nini, who worked at the Australian Turf Club for many years, chronicled her courageous decade-long cancer struggles on social media, touching the lives of many in a positive, meaningful way.

Forzanini will be out for an emotion-charged win at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Grant Guy

It’s why there will be so many cheering for Forzanini on Saturday and even though she is rated only a $19 chance in overnight TAB fixed odds betting behind $4 favourite Remarque, Snowden is convinced the mare will be competitive on Saturday.

“I thought her first-up run was a really good effort,’’ Snowden said.

“I don’t normally go back to 1000m with this mare but I found it hard to find the next run for her.

“She is still very fresh and well in herself, and this race might suit her, a fast run race where she can sit off them with cover. It might not be such a bad thing.’’

Forzanini aside, Team Snowden has some good entries at Royal Randwick on Saturday including speedy two-year-old filly Satin Silk in the Listed $160,000 Darley Lonhro Plate (1000m).

Satin Silk has shaped promisingly in two recent barrier trials in preparation for her return to racing after a debut fifth to Platinum Jubilee in the Gimcrack Stakes last spring.

“I’ve been very happy with how Satin Silk is coming up, her trials have been quite good,’’ Snowden said.

“This is a race you don’t know what you are going to meet, there is a lot of first starters so it’s a difficult race.

“She ran very well in the Gimcrack at her first start but she is much better on top of the ground.

“We’ve also have her entered for a race at Newcastle (900m) on Saturday. I will talk with the owners to see what they want to do but I’m sure she will be run well at Randwick.’’

The Snowden stable, which has had considerable success with their two-year-old team so far this season, have promising juvenile Getty and well-bred first-starter August Bloom clashing in the Drinkwise Plate (1100m) at Randwick’s Kensington meeting on Friday.

Nini Vascotto with the winner’s sash after Forzanini won her maiden just months before her passing.

Getty, a son of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, was a close second at his only start in the Magic Millions Debut at the Gold Coast which was run on an extremely heavy track last month.

“It was a restricted race but I thought Getty’s run was outstanding,’’ Snowden said.

“He got smashed at the start and spat out the back but then he made ground up the inside where the conditions were terrible.

“I thought he couldn’t possibly win but coming to the corner he was jogging then he just got beat in the final few strides.

“When we got him back home I was in two minds what to do with him but after a couple of days he was on top of the world again.

“His work on Tuesday was very good, he’s definitely got talent.’’

August Bloom is a superbly bred filly by More Than Ready out of Peacetime, the dam of the ill-fated Xtremetime and the smart Miss Hellfire.

“She is a nice filly from a very good family,’’ Snowden said of August Bloom.

“Her first trial was OK but her second was excellent. She has a lot of upside and what she does on Friday will tell us if we keep going with her into the autumn.’’

Snowden also provided an update on his highly-rated two-year-old colts, Don Corleone and King’s Gambit, with both likely to have their next starts in Sydney.

Unbeaten Don Corleone is expected to race next weekend in the Pierro Plate at Randwick with King’s Gambit being set for the Silver Slipper later this month.

“Don Corleone will run in the Pierro Plate which still leaves the door open for the Blue Diamond,’’ Snowden said.

“King’s Gambit goes to the Silver Slipper. It was disappointing he didn’t win last week (second behind Red Resistance in the Canonbury Stakes) but I was more than happy with his performance. For a first-up run, I thought he ticked that box.

“It was a really hot day and he felt it but a couple of days after the race he was back on track and he looks great.’’

Originally published as Forzanini chasing an emotional win on birthday of late owner Nini Vascotto