Darley
heavy hitter Medaglia D'Oro (USA) has had some sensational two year-olds this
season in classy Group winners Tenley and Flit with this runaway debut winner
sure to add to their success.
A homebred for Godolphin prepared by Anthony Freedman, two year-old colt
Chenier was favourite for the 1300 metre juvenile maiden at Sandown and gave
his rivals a galloping lesson.
He settled off the pace for Ben Melham and charged to the front at the furlong
before opening up to win by more than five lengths eased down in a dominant
display.
Anthony Freedman revealed Group I plans for the exciting colt indicating he will
run at Sandown on Wednesday, April 10 in a $50,000 two-year-old race over 1400
metres before travelling to Sydney for the $500,000 Group 1 ATC Champagne
Stakes (1600m) at Randwick 10 days later.
"I
think he's very good, potentially, but they've got to keep going the right
way," Freedman said.
"I think to come here and win as well as he did, off a limited prep, would
suggest he'll continue to improve."
Chenier has a pedigree that would suggest his three year-old season will be
even better and longer trips well within his scope.
He is the first winner for classy staying Zabeel mare Zydeco, who won the Group
II VRC Wakeful Stakes and was second in the Group I VRC Oaks. Zydeco is a
daughter of Group I VATC Thousand Guineas winner All Time High, a half-sister
to four-time Group I winner All Our Mob, so it's a family with a nice mix of
stamina and speed.
Zydeco is now in New Zealand for Darley and has a yearling filly by Teofilo
(IRE) a weanling colt by Tavistock and is back in foal to him again.