Blue-Blooded Cheval D’Or (NZ) Claims Valuable Group Three

As a half-sister to a multiple Group One winner, Cheval D’Or (NZ) (Almanzor) was already a valuable filly – but a Group Three victory at Pukekohe on Saturday has added even more sparkle to her pedigree page.

The $100,000 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) was the first win of a six-race career for the Almanzor filly, who had placed in all of her other starts and has now earned $83,270 in prize-money. She was bought for $420,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021 by The Oaks Stud and Pike Racing.

Cheval D’Or has some impressive family footsteps to follow in. Her half-brother (The) Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) won 10 races including the Group One Canterbury Stakes (1300m), Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m), while her dam is a half-sister to the 10-time Group One winner (King) Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire).

With a last-start placing in the Group Three Manawatu Classic (2000m) and now an impressive Championship Stakes win, Cheval D’Or has joined those illustrious relatives as a multiple black-type performer.

Trainer Tony Pike is keen to give her a shot at even bigger and better things during the winter, including a possible tilt at the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m).

“She has been in great form throughout this preparation and deserved that win today,” the Cambridge trainer said.

“She is a half-sister to Bostonian and he got through this type of track, so we were crossing our fingers a little, but she has done it well and is a good staying filly.

“We’ve been over in Brisbane a few times when conditions haven’t been ideal, so it’s nice to know you can cop a track like that.

“She has form on good ground, so is very versatile. As long as she pulls up well, there is no reason why we won’t go.

“She has been a little unlucky not to win a race before today, and as a slow-maturing filly, she is now starting to put things together.

“It is six weeks until the Queensland Oaks, so we might consider running her in The Roses (Group Two, 2000m) first, but that will be determined by how she pulls up today.”

Saturday’s win was an impressive performance in the hands of jockey Michael McNab, who settled her in third-last before swooping into contention at the home turn. None of her nine rivals could match Cheval D’Or’s strength down the straight, and she kicked clear to score by a length and three-quarters.

“I really didn’t know what to expect from her in today’s track conditions,” McNab admitted. “But she travelled beautifully the whole way.

“She probably wasn’t as effective in the last 400 metres, but she did a good job of getting through the track well enough that she was able to conserve her energy.

“I think she is one of our better three-year-olds, and you will see that at the latter part of the season, because she is going the right way.”

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	The Oaks Stud/Pike Racing (Waikato)
Breeding	Almanzor – Keepa Cheval
Sale	Lot 474, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $420,000
Bred by	Archer Equine Investments Ld

 

Winning Connections Photo: Auckland Racing Club