Champers for Chambord

Group One performer Chambord (3 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu, by Montjeu) made the best possible start to a new campaign when coming off a 70-day break to win the William Inglis & Son Benchmark 75 1200 metres by three and a half lengths on Saturday at Te Rapa.

Runner-up in the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and unlucky when sixth in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m), Chambord was never out of second gear winning by five lengths over 1200 metres last September and wearing side winkers he again impressed over the sprint trip.

Patiently handled by jockey Matt Cameron, to travel beautifully in tenth as the trio in front contested a very competitive tempo, Chambord was seven lengths off the pace passing the 600 metres. Cameron found room for Chambord two off the rail at the 250 metres and after changing stride at the 120m he charged away to win easing down.

Not missed by punters, having finished second to Bounding (Lonhro) in a preparatory trial over 950 metres at Cambridge, Chambord returned $3.60 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB and covered the 1200 metres in 1:09.3, last 600m 36.3, on Dead5 footing.

“We've always known he's a really good horse and the win was very satisfying,” said Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman.

“He's got a good turn of foot and we saw the real horse back to 1200 metres. His form early in the season was over short distances and he is a really good doing, strong type. He was back in trip today, but he should have a nice sprinter/miler campaign next season,” said Bridgman.

“He has a terrific appetite for racing and I'm not sure just yet whether we would look for a run for him in Brisbane.

At the time of his purchase, for $200,000 from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, Te Akau principal David Ellis said: “He's a colt that was one of Mark Walker's picks of the sale and was also rated as one of the top colts of the sale by veterinarian Jim Marks”.

Although being by Montjeu (Sadler's Wells), his dam Miss Montjeu displayed plenty of dash winning over 1150 metres and she has certainly produced a powerful youngster in Chambord, who tipped the scales at 540kgs for his fresh-up outing.

“He's a class horse,” said jockey Matt Cameron. “He's quick when you want him to be, but he relaxed nicely with plenty of speed on, weaved his way through and was too good in the end.

“I galloped him on and off track in training on Tuesday and although it was heavy he got through it nicely, but the dead track today was probably as bad as he would like it on race day.”

This report also from the NZ Racing Desk:

Group One performer Chambord belies a pedigree of a classically-bred three-year-old and his connections are now focussed on putting his explosive turn of foot to best use over the shorter trips.

The son of Zabeel and a Montjeu mare showed his sharp acceleration when be accounted for a competitive line-up of Rating 75 sprinters in the William Inglis & Son Handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Runner-up in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas in the spring, Chambord was making his first appearance since he was given a break after failing to live up to staying expectations and a planned tilt at the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby.

“He's a really good horse and three-year-olds can often go astray when they are stepped up over ground,” trainer Jason Bridgman said.

“We felt he had his chance to stay and in the Avondale Guineas he made ground, but he wasn't going to be a Derby contender. He didn't quite have the strength so we gave him a freshen up and trained him like a sprinter.”

Chambord was given time to settle at Te Rapa by regular rider Matt Cameron, who angled into the clear 200 metres from home and the gelding responded brilliantly to burst clear.

“We all know he's not ready to stay yet and he'll get there eventually,” Cameron said. “He's got a great turn of foot and we weaved our way through and he was too good for them.”

Bridgman said he would wait to monitor Chambord's progress before he decided on future plans.

“We'll see how he pulls up after this, but he's got a terrific appetite for racing and whether he campaigns in Brisbane I'm not sure, we'll let the dust settle first.”

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz