Mile Weight in Favour

The New Zealand Racing Desk reports that the mile weight is in Chambord's favour -

Jason Bridgman has yet to be convinced that 1600 metres is Chambord's optimum trip, but there's still confidence in the four-year-old's ability to make his mark at Riccarton.

“The Coupland's is the race we're looking at with him now that he has got one run over a mile under his belt,” the Matamata trainer said.

“He's still progressing the right way and, while I think he might be more effective in the 1200 to 1400 metre range, we've been swayed into having another mile with him.

“He will get in very close to the minimum and he's the right horse to win a race like that.”

The Gr.2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile will be run on the middle day of the New Zealand Cup carnival on November 12 with Chambord currently a $6 pre-post favourite.

The Zabeel gelding pleased Bridgman with his last-start second in the Listed Matamata Cup.

“It was a good effort in his first start in open company,” he said.

Chambord had previously got home late for second when resuming on the opening day of the Hawke's Bay carnival and returned to fill a similar spot on Windsor Park Plate day at Hastings.

Placed at Group One level when runner-up in last season's New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Chambord will have a let-up after Riccarton with major short-course targets in mind for the New Year.

“We'll freshen him up for the sprinting options,” Bridgman said.

“There's the Telegraph or we could look at the Railway, but I think he's probably more of a Telegraph horse myself and then we'll work through to the autumn from there.”