Eze-y Winner on Debut

With only one to the races for Te Akau trainer Mark Walker in Victoria on Tuesday, Chateau Eze (3 f Frankel – Antibes, by Lonhro) recorded a smart debut victory in the A$32,000 Lakeside Conveyancing Maiden 3YO Fillies 1212 metres on 2 September at Benalla (Victoria) in the famous Fairway Thoroughbreds' colours.

In preparation, Chateau Eze had a jump out on her home course at Cranbourne, and most recently a trial on 13 August at Caulfield, when coming out of midfield with a strong finish for third.

Although the signals were positive around a bold showing despite drawing the outside barrier (13), opening in betting at $4.80 on the NZ TAB fixed odds, such were defections that it ended up a field of six and she shortened in to be a dominant $1.80 favourite. 

Ridden by former Te Akau apprentice, Kiwi Michael Dee, who recorded a stakes' race double on Saturday at Caulfield, Chateau Eze assumed an uncontested lead and travelled sweetly. She loomed ominously nearing the home turn, and quickened away in the straight to win by 3.25 lengths.

Prior to the race, and on course, Te Akau Australia assistant trainer Ben Gleeson sounded the warning, when saying: “She had a lovely two outings where she’s been back in amongst the field, travelling nicely in hand, but we’ll leave the tactics to Mick (Dee) and will be looking to see something from her today.

“She’s had a perfect build up and there’s certainly no excuse fitness-wise, but we think she’s perfectly educated with two great experiences and we expect her to put in a strong showing.”

On Soft7 footing, Chateau Eze ran 1212 metres in 1:12.8. 

“It was a positive ride of Michael Dee’s and a great first-up win by the filly,” Walker said.

“We’d taught her to settle, relax, and hit the line at the trials, and it's great to have our first runner for John Camilleri, the breeder of Winx, and his famous colours.

“She’s a Frankel filly who will continue to get better with more time, but it was exciting to see her win the way she did.

“John’s one of the very best breeders in Australia, so it’s an honour to be entrusted with a filly of this quality and to train our first winner for him.”

Not only did Camilleri breed the incomparable Winx (Street Cry), winner of 25 Group One races, but he also bred Group 1 Golden Slipper winner and sire Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro). 

By the highest rated sire in the world, Frankel (Galileo), this filly's grand-dam A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice) was a dual Group Three winner over 1200 metres, in she in turn is out of Group 3 Tristarc Stakes' winner Procrastinate (Jade Hunter). 

Dam sire Lonhro (Octagonal), ‘the black flash’, needs no introduction. Lonhro was Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Miler and Horse of the Year. He was quite simply an outstanding Australian racehorse that won 11 Group Ones, and is now a regular among the top 10 broodmare sires. 

Chateau Eze has a cross of Champion breed shaping sire Danehill (Danzig), as the dam sire of Frankel, and sire of Redoute’s Choice, the sire of grand-dam A Time For Julia. 

Chateau Eze was strapped by Rachel Ames. 

Photo credit - www.breednet.com.au