Trainer Chrissy Bambry is looking forward to saddling smart juvenile filly Chantilly Lace in Saturday’s Seaton Park 2YO (1200m) at New Plymouth.
The daughter of US Navy Flag caught the eye when fifth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at her most recent run, having broken maiden ranks a start prior and been competitive in her five runs to date.
Despite a minor hiccup since the Sires’ Produce, Chantilly Lace is now ready to go and will start a clear second-elect on Saturday with all of the early money for the Allan Sharrock-trained debutant Carbonados ($2 favourite).
“She was all set to run at Pukekohe (in the Listed Champagne Stakes, 1600m), but spiked a temperature so we had to abandon those plans and treat her. She’s had a couple of jump-outs since and has been working well,” Bambry said.
“She probably didn’t have the rub of the green in the Sires’ and we weren’t far away from third and fourth so I was really happy with her run, being the first time up in that grade. It just cemented what we thought of her ability.”
Apprentice Lily Sutherland will take the ride, with her two-kilo claim to assist on the Heavy10 track.
“I don’t think she’ll probably be 110 percent on a bottomless heavy track but she’s a lightly framed filly so I’m just hopping with Lily’s claim we can get through it,” Bambry said.
“She’s shown me enough on rain-affected tracks that she’s okay in it, just whether she can handle that really heavy going will be the question.
“Obviously, Allan Sharrock thinks a lot of his horse and it trialled well on a wet track, but you never know with first starters and hopefully our raceday experience will hold her in good stead. I think she’s probably good value.”
Future targets for Chantilly Lace include the Listed Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on May 27 or the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui a week later.
Bambry will also have veteran campaigner Deerfield step out in the Eyezon Security Open Handicap (1400m), with the Foxton horsewoman pleased to see the Allan Sharrock-trained Justaskme entered as top-weight.
“Deerfield is an older horse that’s taken a little bit of time to get fit,” Bambry said. “Raceday fit is different to trial fit. He’s been running really well at the jumpouts and trials so back to a wet track, which he excels on, I’d expect him to run well.
“The aim is to back-up in the Rangitikei Gold Cup (Listed, 1600m) and then go to weight-for-age at Wanganui (Listed AGC Training Stakes, 1600m), so he could still be a run short but it’s a small field and he’s well weighted with Justaskme in there. He has a top senior jockey on (Johnathan Parkes) and I think he might turn around his form from the other day (sixth when resuming).”
A late starter, who didn’t race until he was five, Deerfield, who is approaching $400,000 in prizemoney, is owned by Bambry along with her parents Tony and Judith and her sister Samantha.
“He acts more like a two-year-old at the track and is absolutely full of himself and he loves the routine of racing,” she said. “I think we’ve probably never had him better than we’ve had the last couple of seasons.
“There’s not many nine-year-olds that have won over $100,000 in a season. He is a bit of a family pet but you’ve got to watch him, he bites.
“He’s probably not the friendliest pet but we’re happy to have him.”
