Chevron cracks century for Dennis

[Wandering Eyes]

Southland trainer Robert Dennis ticked off a career milestone with his 100^th winner on Friday, thanks to a determined front-running performance by Chevron (NZ) (El Roca) in the Chief Stipe Horrell Contracting/Ricki Egerton Dagging Handicap (1600m) at Riverton.

Dennis had brought up his 99^th winner with On Song at Riverton on April 21 and went on to record three seconds, a third, a fourth and two fifths through the couple of weeks since. But Chevron delivered in style as the $2.10 favourite in Friday’s $22,000 open handicap.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Yogesh Atchamah, Chevron broke quickly from the starting gates and soon took up a clear lead. He showed the way up until the home turn, when home-track mare Albatross tackled him and briefly got her head in front.

But Chevron lifted again in the straight and clawed his way back into the lead, pulling away in the closing stages to win by a length. Midnight Runner got up along the inside to run second, half a length in front of Albatross.

“It’s pretty satisfying to bring up that 100^th win,” Dennis said. “It was always going to come – it was just a matter of time. We had to settle for a few placings between 99 and 100. I’ve had a lot of people telling me how close I was over the last week or so, so it’s good to bring that to an end by knocking it off today.”

This was the first South Island win for Chevron, who had previously recorded five wins for Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs.

Bred and raced by Markwood Lodge, whose colours were carried to victory by the Dennis-trained Loftys Gift in the $170,000 Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) in March, Chevron has now had a total of 36 starts for six wins, 16 placings and $203,556 in stakes.

The seven-year-old son of El Roca had finished third and second in his first two appearances for Dennis on March 28 and April 21.

“It was a really good performance by Chevron today,” Dennis said. “He was a pretty handy horse in the north and is now hitting form down here too. He seems to have found his mojo, which is good. Hopefully we can carry on with him now and pick off some nice races through the rest of the winter.

“There’s a good-money meeting coming up at Wingatui on Sunday the 1^st of June, so I think that’s what we’ll point him towards next.”

In the meantime, Dennis has half a dozen entries for his local meeting at Ascot Park on Sunday, and he believes a pair of in-form mares will be the ones to watch.

“I really like On Song, who won last start, has a 4kg claim on Sunday and loves wet ground,” Dennis said. “Vino Valentino is another one who’s in really good form, she’s run a couple of top races to place in her last couple of starts. She looks well placed in her race with a 2kg claim as well. I’d say those two are probably our leading lights for Sunday.”

On Song is another Markwood Lodge homebred and is a half-sister to Chevron, being by The Bold One out of the Refuse To Bend mare La Cite. On Song has so far had 13 starts for four wins and $72,945 in stakes.

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