Bridgman waves wand for Makfi start

Matamata horseman Jason Bridgman knows he needs an early strike with Spellbinder to realise his group one spring hopes for the mare.

“She would need to win the Foxbridge Plate on Saturday to get into the Makfi — she would need nine or 10 points just to sneak in — but she has to make the Foxbridge field and there are a lot of horses heading there,” he said.

“If she can’t get in then we’ll have to change her spring targets and look at other options.”

A stakes winner of four of her eight starts and placed in last season’s New Zealand 1000 Guineas, Spellbinder has pleased in her build-up for a spring campaign.

“We gave her an exhibition gallop the other day at Avondale and she worked really well,” Bridgman said. “She’s in tip-top order and is more robust now.”

Her exciting stablemate Chambord is also making good progress and is on target to resume at the Hastings carnival.

“He’ll kick off on the 30th in the Rating 85 over 1200m,” Bridgman said. “He’s got a lot of upside and he’s got a group one turn of foot. He needs good ground and while mentally he’s still quite volatile, he’s potentially the best horse in the stable if he keeps taking the right steps and I’m looking forward to the season with him.”

The Zabeel 4-year-old hasn’t raced since an impressive win at Te Rapa in his only appearance in the autumn.

He finished fourth in a recent trial at Te Teko behind his barn mate Sir Darci, who is the winner of three of his nine starts and will also resume at Hastings.