Sprinter overcomes injuries for Levin win
The trials and tribulations of Chambord form a lengthy list, but at Otaki he showed exactly what he is capable of when injury-free.
The seven-year-old overcame numerous setbacks to win the fourth race of his career when he lowered the colours of last season’s champion sprinter Start Wondering in Friday’s Listed Fasttrack Insurance Levin Stakes (1200m).
While he may have enjoyed a seven and a-half kilo pull in the weights, Chambord’s effort was nevertheless full of merit.
‘‘He broke down in his final gallop before the Coupland’s Mile three years ago, he shattered his cannon bone and we got him back from that,’’ said Jamie Richards, who trains the Zabeel gelding with Stephen Autridge.
‘‘That wasn’t his only major injury either. He’s had stress fractures high up in his back and lots of other bits and pieces, but he’s as sound now as he’s ever been.
‘‘He’s been a great horse for the stable and the owners have never moaned with all the things that have gone wrong.’’
Richards said they would see how Chambord comes through his Otaki outing before committing to a summer programme.
‘‘We’re always hoping he pulls up fine and he’s nominated for the Railway and the Telegraph, but whether they may be a bit sharp for him we’re not sure.
‘‘There’s a Listed race over 1400m at Te Rapa in a couple of weeks and that could lead up to the Rich Hill Mile if we think he can stretch out to 1600m.’’
Chambord sat three back on the rails before he was angled into the clear in the straight by rider Cameron Lammas and they proved too good for a gallant Start Wondering. ‘‘We got a lovely run on the fence and when we came out I knew the second horse had a lot more weight so I bided my time a bit and then got him,’’ Lammas said.
Cambridge Stud will offer Chambord’s three-quarter brother by Savabeel (Lot 392) during the book one sale at Karaka in 2018.
Meanwhile, Group I-winning trainer Fraser Auret’s long held opinion that Matchbreaker is a special talent has been franked at Otaki on Friday.
Auret has not been in any rush with the three-year-old and the Marton trainer’s waiting tactics were rewarded when the gelding impressively won the Group III Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m).
Matchbreaker’s winning performance came off the back of a debut second in October and a month later he broke his maiden over 1400m.
‘‘His first trial as a two-year-old was won by Hard Merchandize and Waldorf ran third,’’ said Auret, who has enjoyed past topflight success with Julinsky Prince and Aide Memoire.
‘‘We were second and he’s just a beautiful horse going forward that’s for sure, he’s got a lot of improvement to come.’’
Matchbreaker raced outside initial leader Lady Rossa before finding the front a long way from home.
He rallied strongly under Chris Johnson with a performance that has fuelled plans for a tilt at the Group I New Zealand Derby (2400m) next year.
‘‘He got pretty keen early, but typically Chris didn’t panic and they got the job done,’’ Auret said. ‘‘This horse has always had the goods and it helps to have a Group III in the bag going forward.’’
Trail Blazer came with a powerful finish to cut Divine Power out of second with the favourite Karisto finishing fourth.