Chambord Sticks to Sprinting Path

The Informant reports:

Chambord holds nominations for the Thorndon Mile and the 2000-metre Herbie Dyke Stakes, but after a pair of top-drawer sprinting performances he is being kept to shorter distances for the time being.

The son of Zabeel's next start will be in the 1200-metre Listed Hallmark Stud (formerly Newmarket) Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Chambord finished second in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas back in 2013, but has endured a nightmare run of injuries and setbacks since then and had to wait until this month for the first black-type win of his stop-start career. Making his 21st start, Chambord finished over the top of the multiple Group One winner Start Wondering in the Listed Levin Stakes at Otaki.

Last Saturday at Te Rapa he produced a stirring follow-up, blocked for a run until the last 100 metres of Gr. 3 J Swap Sprint and flashing home for a close second behind his stablemate Royal Success.

“He really ran a mighty race,” co-trainer Stephen Autridge said. “With any luck he would probably have won it.”

Chambord has now earned more than $220,000 for his owners in the Te Akau Cups Syndicate, and next month he is likely to return to Group One competition for the first time in three years.

“He's come through his Te Rapa run in top order and we're looking forward to the Listed sprint on Boxing Day,” Autridge said. “Safely through that, it's three weeks or so to the Telegraph at Trentham.”