Chambord to the Guineas

Te Akau has won the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas four times in the past decade with King's Chapel, Darci Brahma, Tell A Tale and Rock 'n' Pop (pictured above) - this year's hope is Chambord, as the NZ Racing Desk reports:

Chambord will be Jason Bridgman's sole representative in Saturday's Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas after the stable decided against a start for either of their top female three-year-olds.

The son of Zabeel  is expected to be a worthy contender in the Sothys-sponsored feature at Riccarton on Saturday with Spellbinder and Costa Viva to be reserved for the Gr.1 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas a week later.

“We kept our options open and Costa Viva would have been the only one you could possibly be tempted to run,” Bridgman said.

“It would have been too short a turnaround for Spellbinder and at the end of the day they are chasing the Filly of the Year series and we didn't want to jeopardise their chances in that.”

The lightly-raced Chambord ran fifth behind stablemate Wolfwhistle on debut at Taupo in September and then broke his maiden with ease at Gisborne.

He showed further improvement last time to seal his Guineas berth when runner-up to Costa Visa in the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes at Ashburton.

“They have been working together and there's nothing between them to be honest, on what they've done they've both got plenty of Group One potential” Bridgman said.

“He's going to be a very good chance in the 2000 Guineas in a wide open field. He made up six lengths on Costa Viva in the Ray Coupland and they ran a tick outside the track record.

“You can take a line through Costa Viva's form and she ran Bounding to three-quarters of a length at Hastings (in the Gold Trail Stakes).
“He's a very progressive horse and still a bit rough around the edges. He's has been quite flighty, but in his work he has become a lot more settled and he will improve more on a good track at Riccarton.”