Written by Paul Vettise
Gordon Calder has celebrated Group 1 success, and the promise of more to come, as a direct result of his long-term role as the New Zealand representative of the global racing powerhouse Coolmore.
He shares in the ownership of the G1 New Zealand Derby winner Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) with Deborah Martin and husband and wife breeders Matthew Goodson, a former chairman of the Board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, and Diana Perron.
Gordon Calder
“I work for Coolmore and Matt and I are really good friends and I organised the foal share for them to send the mare Chasing Mammon to Fastnet Rock,” Calder said. “He was offered through the Magic Millions Sale at the Gold Coast, but didn’t sell.”
Sherwood Forest failed to meet his $100,000 reserve when offered in 2018 by Coolmore.
“He was always a gorgeous foal and weanling and he was probably just the wrong horse in the wrong sale." - Gordon Calder
“I had seen him a number of times at the farm growing up and I said to Matt that a client and myself were happy to buy into the horse and that’s exactly what happened,” Calder said.
“He was always a gorgeous foal and weanling and he was probably just the wrong horse in the wrong sale - a big staying New Zealand type of horse.”
Sherwood Forest as a yearling
Early sign
Sherwood Forest was placed with trainer Tony Pike and, despite three unplaced runs as a 2-year-old, the Cambridge horseman predicted Group 1 glory for the gelding.
“I can tell you hand on my heart that after the horse ran sixth in the Listed Champagne S. at Ellerslie, he got back last in a slowly run race and stormed home, Tony said I’ll win the Derby with this horse,” Calder said.
“We believed all the way through that he could. It was a big day and it has always been a goal of mine to win the Derby, so it was a huge thrill.”
"Tony said I’ll win the Derby with this horse." - Gordon Calder
Sherwood Forest’s dam Chasing Mammon (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), who has also left the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Royal Ocean (Fastnet Rock), is a half-sister to the Listed Twilight Glow S. winner Zelsnitz (Snitzel).
The second dam Eishin Maysville (USA) (Jade Hunter {USA}) was a winner in Japan and she’s a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner and champion sire Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
“Chasing Mammon is in foal to Saxon Warrior and she’s got a lovely Merchant Navy colt,” Calder said.
A decision on Sherwood Forest’s immediate future has yet to be made, but a crack at the G1 Australian Derby is naturally to the fore of planning.
Sherwood Forest returning to scale after his G1 New Zealand Derby win
“We were leaning towards going to Adelaide for the G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville. We think he’s a better horse that way around, he wobbled around the Ellerslie bend a bit,” Calder said.
“He won so well that I think Sydney will be tempting us now. We will be listening to what Tony says, he’s done a great job with the horse.”
The Cambridge-based Calder has now had an interest in four Group 1 winners – La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), Arlingtonboulevard (NZ) (Spinning World {USA}) and San Luis (Flying Spur).
Calder, who for the last 15 years has looked after Coolmore’s New Zealand clients with mating advice and stallion bookings, remains involved in the ownership of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and G2 Surround S. winner La Diosa.
“She was retired to stud last year and she’s in foal to American Pharoah,” he said.
Connections of Sherwood Forest will be listening to trainer Tony Pike when it comes to making a decision on the gelding's next move
Another Derby clash
Sherwood Forest is likely to renew his rivalry with Scorpz (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in Australia with Stephen Marsh confirming a trip to Sydney after his gelding closed late for third in the Derby.
“He was ordinary out of the gates and got further back than we wanted. He got knocked over on the corner and lost momentum and sprinted hard that last 100 metres,” he said.
Splitting them was the filly Two illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and her stablemates Monlula (NZ) (He’s Remarkable {NZ}) and Reggiewood (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) were fifth and sixth respectively and are also in the mix to cross the Tasman.
Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will delay a decision on a G1 Australian Oaks start for Two Illicit and Derby runs for the barnmates for another week.
