Patience Certainly Pays Off - Stakes' Win 7

 A galloper of immense courage and talent, Chambord (7 g Zabeel - Miss Montjeu, by Montjeu) returned off a lengthy spell to win second up in the $50,000 Fasttrack Insurance Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on 1 December at Otaki.

A race Te Akau was successful in with Burgundy (Redoute's Choice) in 2012, Chambord last won in December 2016, albeit only two starts ago, and he put the writing on the wall when resuming with vengeance, coming from last in the fastest final 600m (32.7) of the day for fourth in the Legacy Lodge Sprint (Listed, 1200m) on 11 November at Te Rapa.

Last of six runners in the early stages and three back on the inner when settling, rider Cameron Lammas took up a vacant trailing position rounding the home turn, angled across heels at the 250m and Chambord did the rest when quickening stylishly for a very good win.  In doing so, he downed the 2016/17 Champion Sprinter of the Year, dual group 1 winner Start Wondering.

On Good3 footing, Chambord ran the 1200 metres in 1:10.3, paid $5.30 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote, and in the process he beat dual Group One winner Start Wondering (Eight Wonder).

“It was fantastic and for Steve (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards) to have trained seven stakes' winners in the first four months of the season is an incredible performance,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis, who purchased Chambord as a yearling for $200,000, from the draft of Cambridge Stud, at the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale.

“To win another stake's race with one of our favourite horses is amazing for the owners and everyone involved. He's been through the mill, had soundness problems and I think he's a horse that only very good trainers could win races with. The team has given him all the time he's needed and he's been a great patient when recovering from injury.

“It's his first stakes' win and I get a big thrill out of seeing the tangerine colours winning with horses like this. He finished second as three-year-old in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas, been black type placed three times and it's great reward for everyone's patience.

“It's really exciting and part of the history of Te Akau Racing, a good horse like this.”

Although being by Montjeu (Sadler's Wells), his dam Miss Montjeu displayed plenty of dash winning over 1150 metres and certainly passed her sprinting ability on to Chambord.

“It was a great win and he's just such a gutsy horse,” Richards said.

“Steve (Autridge) and I give thanks to the owners, who have been so patient and they deserve a good race win like this.  It's quite unbelievable the problems he's had, but thanks to everyone that has been involved in his rehab.

“It was a lovely ride by Cameron (Lammas). The horse is the soundest he's been. I think the treadmill has been a big help in his training regime and hopefully we can pick a path which will see him in some nice races around Christmas and New Year.”

Chambord was strapped by Kerry Jones.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz