Breeders dominated by Charmont
Charmont was the class factor in the fillies and mares feature at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare justified the long haul from her Cambridge stable with a dominant win in the $50,000 Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
She became stakes winner number 12 for the stable this season with two of them coming in Australia.
The Bob Emery-owned High Chaparral mare didn’t get the best of luck in the race but her superiority over a number of talented opposition was obvious when jockey Michael Coleman asked the 5-year-old for an effort.
Despite travelling three-wide throughout, she exploded away from the pack at Coleman’s asking to win with ease in a slick 1:34.14 to register win three from 23 starts.
Although it was just the Emery-bred mare’s third win, she has collected over $160,000 in stakes from several placings in top company which punters observed, installing her the warm $2.80 favourite on barrier rise.
‘‘It wasn’t pretty,’’ Coleman said of his ride.
‘‘But she always travelled sweetly, she was always going really well.
‘‘She’s been running in good fields all the way along and it’s good to get a Listed win for her.
‘‘She’s been a bridesmaid so many times.’’
As a 3-year-old she ran a series of third placings in Group races including the NZ Oaks, Royal Stakes, Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, Sunline Vase and Manawatu Classic.
Last season the granddaughter of Champagne kept her run of thirds going in the Group III South Island Breeders Stakes.
‘‘I was getting a bit worried she wouldn’t get a black-type win but now she’s done it,’’ Emery said. ‘‘She thoroughly deserved it.’’ The happy owner didn’t make the trip to Tauherenikau after a busy time at last week’s Karaka Yearling Sales where he sold four yearlings.
He won the race in 2010 with his Group I winner, Champagne’s daughter Nadege who went on to run fourth at her next start in the Westbury Classic.
The Listed race on March 11 at Ellerslie is the next mission for Charmont who is in her last season of racing before she joins Emery’s eight-strong broodmare band boarding at Cambridge Stud.
Nadege is the dam of Esteban the winner of four from 12 for John Sargent in Sydney.