Bou Chard thrills in super series
Horsham-owned and trained four-year-old pacer Bou Chard gave her connections a huge thill at Ballarat on Friday night when victorious in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series.
When driver Chris Alford took defending Vicbred champion Rocknroll Magic to the lead early in the 2200-metre contest, Bou Chard and driver Michael Bellman were forced to do the bullocking work without cover in their quest to qualify for a spot in the semi-finals.
Bellman upped the ante with 500 metres to travel and the leading pair drew clear of the rest in a ding-dong battle for supremacy.
The third quarter was run in a blistering 27.3 seconds and turning for home it was a matter of which mare would be first to surrender.
Half way down the straight it was Bou Chard still standing and Rocknroll Magic under severe pressure. Alford realised his mare was done and dropped the reins for another day with Bou Chard drawing away in the shadows of the post to score by six metres in a rate of 1:58.8.
Her breeder Robin Connelly races the mare in partnership with trainer Rod Carberry.
She has gone from strength to strength over the past 12 months, beginning with a victory at the bolters odds of 40-1 on her home track in June last year.
She went on to make the semi-finals of the three-yearold Vicbred Series and then took out a listed classic, the $25,000 Silver Pace at Melton in July.
After a spell Carberry bought the then four-year-old back for a short campaign in early January 2017 with her six starts, yielding three wins and three thirds.
Bou Chard enjoyed another short break in preparation for the current Vicbred series then returned with a handy first-up second placing at Horsham on May 31 before saluting at Stawell a week later.
Bou Chard’s career record now stands at 21 starts for seven wins, six minor placings and stakes of $49,680.
Baring accident and injury she has the ability to reach even greater heights.
The Carberry-connelly team has fingers firmly crossed for no bad luck in running, along with favourable barrier draws during the next couple of weeks.
All going well, Bou Chard will contest a semi-final at Melton on Friday night and hopefully, the prestigious $120,000 final on Saturday, July 8. Go Bou!