Chambord Looks for Repeat Result

The Informant reports:

Chambord's patient owners had to wait four years for his first stakes win, but the talented gelding will attempt to make it two in a row when he lines up in today's Gr. 3 J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa.

The son of Zabeel has been a quality galloper throughout his career, running second to Atlante in the Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in 2013 along with three other black-type placings.

Making his 21st start in an injury-interrupted career, the seven-year-old finished over the top of Start Wondering for a richly deserved breakthrough victory in the Listed Levin Stakes at Otaki on December 1.

“He deserved that win and he's done very well since then,” co-trainer Jamie Richards told The Informant.

“He's a horse that never needs a lot of work, but he galloped very nicely with Royal Success this (Tuesday) morning and everything seems to be spot-on with him.

“Stepping up from 1200 to 1400 metres on Saturday will suit him, and we think he can go another really good race.”

Among the opposition will be his stablemate Royal Success, who has also had his share of setbacks but has compiled a tidy career record of five wins and three placings from 11 starts.

The Savabeel gelding finished second at Tauranga in his last start on November 18, beaten by a head by Natuzzi and finishing just ahead of his talented stablemate Splurge.

“Royal Success is going very well,” Richards said. “Spacing his races out seems to suit him.

“His run last time was excellent, just behind Natuzzi and beating Splurge. We're making a small gear change for this weekend, putting on visor blinkers. We're expecting another good run from him as well.”

Royal Success was a winner of his only previous start at Te Rapa.

He finished only a length behind the dead-heat winners Shadows Cast and Son Of Maher.

Ronchi is dropping back in distance after a gallant front-running fourth in the Gr. 3 Eagle Technology Stakes over 1600 metres at Ellerslie. He fought on gamely to finish less than a length behind Hiflyer, Splurge and Volkstok'n'barrell.

Stratford visitor Shadow Fox has impressed in his last couple of starts, leading all the way for an open sprint win at Awapuni in mid-November before sticking on well for a close third in the Levin Stakes.

The blue and white colours of the Go Racing syndicates will be carried by the well-performed pair of Seize The Moment and Passing Shot.

Seize The Moment is a previous winner at Te Rapa and finished second in this race last year behind the subsequent Group One winner Thee Auld Floozie, while Passing Shot made a welcome return to form with a last-start second in the Gr. 3 Stewards' Stakes at Riccarton.