Popular grey gelding Chattahoochee (NZ) (Reliable Man) could be in for an exciting autumn after pleasing with his three-length trial victory over 950m at Cambridge on Tuesday.
The six-year-old son of Reliable Man was making his first New Zealand public appearance since his two-run Melbourne campaign for interim trainer Cindy Alderson last year, where he placed in the Subzero Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day before finishing fourth in the Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m).
Back in the care of Te Awamutu trainer Debbie Sweeney, some black-type targets await the gelding following his positive trial showing.
“It was a really nice trial from him today. He went well and he seems to like the poly,” Sweeney said.
“He went really well in Australia. On Melbourne Cup Day he dropped back in distance, and it was a good effort, and his next start he got a bit of a wet track, which he didn’t really cop that day. He still tried and went a good race.
“He will possibly have a start in the next fortnight somewhere. His main aim will be the Manco Easter Handicap (Gr.3, 1600m). Brian Black, one of his owners, sponsors that race.”
Chattahoochee was ridden in Tuesday’s trial by probationary jockey Ashlee Strawbridge, who is set to commence her apprenticeship with Sweeney and make her raceday riding debut in the coming weeks.
“Ashlee Strawbridge is a new apprentice for the stable and she is looking to kick-off in the next fortnight,” Sweeney said.
“Her mother, Michelle Strawbridge, works for us. She was Michelle Hopkins and was a good jumps jockey.
“She (Ashlee) has been with the stable for a while working school holidays and then she went down to uni in Christchurch and then decided she wanted to come back and give it a go as a jockey.
“She worked for Ross Beckett down there for a while and then decided to come back home and work for me, so that was really good.
“She has been going along really nicely. Going into the winter months she is going to be a good four-kilo claimer. She is nice and light, she can ride at 51.5kg. She is looking promising.”
Meanwhile, in the same heat, Sweeney was pleased to see Willit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) finish second to his stablemate.
The Gerry Harvey-bred and raced gelding won on debut last July and Sweeney is expecting him to add to his win tally over the winter months.
“He went a really nice trial as well,” she said. “He is a horse that is waiting for a bit more moisture in the ground, but he trialled up nicely and showed a bit of ability last time around, so I am happy with him.
“He is probably looking at a fortnight’s time (to kick-off). As soon as we get a bit of rain somewhere, he can head to the races, he is pretty forward.”
Stablemate Madame Kiwi (NZ) (Staphanos) also impressed when winning her 800m heat by 1-3/4 lengths. It was the first public outing for the three-year-old daughter of Staphanos, and Sweeney is looking forward to the future with her.
“It was only a four-horse field, but she trialled up nicely and showed a bit of speed,” Sweeney said.
“She will improve off that.”
