Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day

Media Release - Monday November 4

The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.

Chattahoochee will take his place in The Subzero Handicap (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Popular grey gelding Chattahoochee has developed a cult following back in New Zealand where he has won six races and was runner-up in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) earlier this year for Te Awamutu trainer Debbie Sweeney.

The son of Reliable Man was building towards a trip across the Tasman this preparation, and the decision was made to book his ticket following his placing behind Group One winner Mustang Valley at Tauranga last month.

He has subsequently entered the care of Cranbourne trainer Cindy Alderson, and Sweeney said she has received positive reports since his arrival.

Advertisement

“He is with Cindy Alderson and she is very happy with him. I have kept in touch and have seen videos, and he has been working well,” Sweeney said.

“He looks nice and happy and has settled in well to the different environment. Last year I went over to Cindy’s and her place is similar to ours, she has got a paddock there for him and he likes to be out in a paddock. She is a really nice lady and has got a really nice set-up.”

Sweeney said the race shapes nicely for Chattahoochee, who was given the tick of approval by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams following a trial last week.

“Craig Williams rode him in a trial last Monday and he was really happy with him,” she said. “He was really complimentary of him and said what a lovely horse he was.

“He is dropping back to 1400m, which will be interesting, but he has been freshened-up for that.

“It is a rating 90 race, and he is the second highest rated horse in the race, so he is quite well off in that race.”

Chattahoochee has already started to accrue a following in Australia and has proven to be a coveted ride for Tuesday’s race named after 1992 Melbourne Cup hero Subzero.

“It sounds like he has got a few fans over there as well now too,” Sweeney said. “Everyone seems to fall in love with him wherever he goes. There were quite a lot of people chasing the ride on him.”

Sweeney is particularly excited for his owners Lisa Anderson and Bryan Black, and is hoping their charge can get the chocolates for them on Tuesday.

“It is great for the owners,” she said. “Mr (Bryan) Black is a big supporter of the industry and so is Lisa, so it is great for them to have a horse in on Melbourne Cup Day, you don’t get that opportunity very often. It is exciting that it is a grey race too, which makes it a bit more interesting as well.”

Tuesday’s race could be a hit-and-run mission for Chattahoochee, however, Sweeney said he may have another run before heading home.

“It will be up to the owners and what they want to do, but I know Cindy possibly has one race planned for him after Tuesday, so we will just see,” she said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra
The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.