Chenille
Trish Dunell
Classy mare Chenille kicked off a superlative day for the Cambridge based Tony Pike stable when she returned to form with a vengeance at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The lightly raced five-year-old was having her third run back in this campaign and registered her sixth career success as she powered home to score decisively in the South Auckland Racing Club sponsored 1600 metre contest. It was the mare's first victory since she triumphed in the Listed Hawke's Bay Gold Cup back in April and showed she is ready to make her presence felt in the upcoming summer staying features.
"We're proud of her today," said co-owner and breeder Vicki Pike who was representing the stable with son Tony across the Tasman at Moonee Valley with star three-year-old Sacred Elixir.
"She's been a difficult mare to get fit as, with the tracks we've had through the winter, we just haven't been able to get the work into her."
Pike acknowledged the mare had needed the first two runs in her current preparation but had felt she was ready to show improvement on the weekend.
"She's a big, gross mare," she said.
"Her first two starts were very similar to last year as she has just taken the time to get fit. Today we expected her to go a much improved run as the weather has been good but we didn't expect her to win.
"We're looking forward to a good season with her now."
Trainer Tony Pike had indicated in the past he felt the mare was a genuine summer cups contender with her programme likely to be aimed at races such as the Gr. 3 Ssanyong Counties Cup (2100m) in mid November or Gr. 3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in December.
While Pike would have been delighted with the performance his day got even better when Sacred Elixir rounded off his preparation for next week's Gr. 1 AAMI Victoria Derby with a stirring performance to score in the last race of the day at Moonee Valley, the Gr. 2 LUCRF Super Vase (2040m). – NZ Racing Desk
The lightly raced five-year-old was having her third run back in this campaign and registered her sixth career success as she powered home to score decisively in the South Auckland Racing Club sponsored 1600 metre contest. It was the mare's first victory since she triumphed in the Listed Hawke's Bay Gold Cup back in April and showed she is ready to make her presence felt in the upcoming summer staying features.
"We're proud of her today," said co-owner and breeder Vicki Pike who was representing the stable with son Tony across the Tasman at Moonee Valley with star three-year-old Sacred Elixir.
"She's been a difficult mare to get fit as, with the tracks we've had through the winter, we just haven't been able to get the work into her."
Pike acknowledged the mare had needed the first two runs in her current preparation but had felt she was ready to show improvement on the weekend.
"She's a big, gross mare," she said.
"Her first two starts were very similar to last year as she has just taken the time to get fit. Today we expected her to go a much improved run as the weather has been good but we didn't expect her to win.
"We're looking forward to a good season with her now."
Trainer Tony Pike had indicated in the past he felt the mare was a genuine summer cups contender with her programme likely to be aimed at races such as the Gr. 3 Ssanyong Counties Cup (2100m) in mid November or Gr. 3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in December.
While Pike would have been delighted with the performance his day got even better when Sacred Elixir rounded off his preparation for next week's Gr. 1 AAMI Victoria Derby with a stirring performance to score in the last race of the day at Moonee Valley, the Gr. 2 LUCRF Super Vase (2040m). – NZ Racing Desk
