By Heather Anderson
In a close finish, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Charmont (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) bested Mastercraftsman (Ire)'s daughters Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) and stablemate Mime (NZ) in the NZ$200,000 G1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' S. Just 10 minutes later, their G1 New Zealand Oaks heroine Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) gave the training duo their second Group 1 on the day, landing the G1 Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick on the second weekend of The Championships in Sydney.
“That's 20 Group 1 races in Australia now for Murray and his record in travelling horses to win big races is fantastic,” Forsman, who was in Sydney just a week ago to saddle Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) to take the G1 Australian Derby, told www.nzracing.co.nz. “She [Charmont] really deserved that, she's been Group 1 placed before and she's competed well in black-type races all of her career.”
Glued to the rails in fourth as Girl of My Dreams (NZ) (Gold Centre {Aus}) showed the way early, Charmont drifted back to sit sixth with 600 metres remaining. Full of run and in dire need of a seam 250 metres out, the 16-1 shot was steered out to the center of the course under Matthew Cameron and began to let down, as favoured Thee Auld Floozie struck the front. Mime was also quickening up in fine style just to the outside of the Bob Emery homebred, who found herself sandwiched between the greys inside the final 50 metres. Her late rush proved superior however, defeating Thee Auld Floozie by a head, with Mime a similar distance back in third.
“I'm rapt for Bob [Emery] and I just wish he was here–he's at home a bit crook,” continued Forsman. “He's a great owner and he's just let us do our own thing with the mare.”
Charmont completed the trifecta in the 2015 G1 New Zealand Oaks and had been no worse than third in her four runs prior to the Breeders' S. Victorious in the Listed Breeders' S. at Tauherenikau going this trip Feb. 6, the bay was third in the G3 Grange Cuddle S. to the reopposing Miss Wilson (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) and Stylish Attack (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) last out Mar. 18.
Forsman and Baker were mulling several options for their newest Group 1 winner and the China Horse Club's Mime, with the Apr. 29 G2 Travis S. a possibility.
“We'll see how they come through this race and then talk to the owners,” Forsman concluded. “Mime might have been a bit dour second-up and she's possibly looking for 2000 metres now.”
Pedigree Notes…
Charmont is the 17th top-flight winner for her late Coolmore shuttle sire High Chaparral (Ire), whose Whispered Secret (Aus) was successful in the Listed Fernhill H. at Royal Randwick Saturday. Charmont's dam Martique, a daughter of New Zealand highweight Champagne (NZ) (Zabeeel {NZ}), who struck twice at the Group 1 level and ran second in the G1 Melbourne Cup, scored the biggest win of her career in the 1350-metre Listed Glenlogan Park S. at Doomben in 2004. Charmont is her fifth foal, third winner of four runners and lone stakes winner. Champagne is a full-sister to fellow New Zealand highweight and G1 New Zealand Derby winner St Reims (NZ). Fittingly, Charmont shares her third dam, L'Quiz (L'Enjoleur), with Bonneval.
Saturday, Te Rapa, New Zealand
FIBER FRESH NEW ZEALAND THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS' S.-G1, NZ$200,000 (US$138,730/£112,118/€130,993), Te Aroha JC, 4-08, f/m, Open, 1600mT, 1:35.42, Dead.
1–@&CHARMONT (AUS) , 57.0, m, 5, by High Chaparral (Ire)
1st Dam: Martique (AUS) (SW-Aus), by Danehill (USA)
2nd Dam: Champagne, by Zabeel
3rd Dam: L'Quiz (USA), by L'Enjoleur (CAN)
(NZ$240,000 RNA Ylg '13 NWZJAN). O-R A Emery; B-Mr RA
Emery NSW; T-M Baker & A Forsman; J-M Cameron;
NZ$125,000. Lifetime Record: 24-4-3-9, NZ$293,750. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
2–Thee Auld Floozie, 57.0, m, 5, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Thee
Auld Hussie, by Spinning World (USA). O-P D Craighead, L G
Ford, S B Marsh, M C Roughead, Two Fat Cows Syndicate, J G &
Mrs S K Young; B-J G Young, Waikato, NZ; T-S B Marsh; J-O P
Bosson; NZ$40,000.
3–Mime, 57.0, m, 4, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Maidjeu, by
Montjeu (IRE). (NZ$13,000 RNA Ylg '14 NWZJAN). O-China
Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd; B-L I Redshaw, Central, NZ; T-M
Baker & A Forsman; J-J L Waddell; NZ$20,000.
Margins: 0.2 len, 0.4 len, 1.9 len. Odds: 16.00, 1.90, 4.20, 7.20.
Also Ran: Miss Wilson (AUS) , Sofia Rosa, Rasa Lila, Stylish Attack, Lucyinrio, Big Dreamer, Rising Shot, Fanatic, Girl of My Dreams.
Click for the Racing Post chart, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. NZ Racing Video.
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