Luck Stands in Way of Perfect Result

The Informant reports:

Stephen Autridge's tipping skills were put to the test at Te Rapa today and only bad luck prevented a perfect result.

The Matamata horseman, who trains in partnership with Jamie Richards, gave a solid push toward Chambord's chances in the Gr. 3 J Swap Contractors Sprint.  That was thwarted, however, when Chambord was denied a run until late in the straight and once clear the injury-plagued seven-year-old powered home for second.

“I'm a Chambord man,” Autridge said. “He's just a loveable horse who's been to hell and back. He's not timid, he's just a genuine racehorse.”

However, the stable still celebrated a dominant result with stablemate Royal Success winning for the sixth time in 12 starts. His career has also been interrupted by leg issues.

“They had worked together during the week and Royal Success probably looked the better, but I thought the track may have been a bit hard for him today.”

Royal Success was given a cosy trip in the trail by Cameron Lammas and a determined finish got him home by a head from his luckless stablemate, who drove late under Chris Johnson once he found space.

The run of the third placegetter Ronchi was also full of merit after he again missed the jump, as he had done at his previous two appearances, before storming home along the fence.