The
late great High Chaparral (IRE) is having a season to remember with Melbourne
Cup winner Rekindling and Victory Derby winner Ace High among his stakes-winners.
He featured at Mornington on Wednesday as the sire of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian
Bott trained first starter Rancho Chaparro, who turned in a tenacious effort to
post his first win.
He led all the way in the 1500 metre maiden and although tired on the line
given it was his first start, the three year-old stuck to his guns to claim a
head win.
A $145,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft for First
Light Racing / Gai Waterhouse Racing / J Blaxland, Rancho Chaparro has a big
team of owners and a birhgt future judging by this debut victory.
Rancho Chaparro is a half-brother to stakes-placed Le Mans and is the second
winner for Amouage, whose dam Sursum Corda is a Group I placed sister to Group
I winners Champagne and St Reims.
High Chaparral has already worked with this family to produce Group I winner
Charmont, while another star member of this family is current season performer Bonneval,
a triple Group I winner $1.6 million.