First Southern Hemisphere winner for US Navy Flag

[Wandering Eyes]

The Chrissy Bambry-trained Chantilly Lace (NZ) ran out an impressive winner of the Palamountains Animal Nutrition 2YO 1200 at Wanganui on Thursday and in the process provided her sire, US Navy Flag, with his first southern hemisphere winner.

Sent out an $11 chance, Chantilly Lace settled midfield under Kelsey Hannan and was sent forward to tackle the leaders coming around the home bend, dashing away for an easy two-and-a-half length victory at her fourth raceday start.

The filly had been luckless when denied a run for much of the home straight when third to Tulsi at her previous start and Hannan was keen to make amends, with Chantilly Lace providing the talented apprentice with her 50^th win for the season.

“I’ve been pretty impressed by this filly and I expected her to run well today,” Bambry said.

“There were a couple in there with good raps on them but I thought she should have won last start where she was really unlucky and she had trained on even better, so I was expecting a good performance

“She is very professional. She puts her ears back and really tries. Everyone that rides her says she tries her little heart out.

“She is not a big filly but she is very athletic and does try very hard.”

Chantilly Lace was bought by Bambry for $66,000 in conjunction with Paul Moroney from the Valachi Downs Unreserved Young & Racing Stock Dispersal on Gavelhouse Plus last year.

Out of the More Than Ready mare On The Move, she is a granddaughter of Group One winner Russeting.

“I had a horse in work for Paul Moroney and he gave me a short-list, as I didn’t have time to look at all the horses,” Bambry said.

“He gave me a list of a dozen to have a look at in the dispersal and I went up and she was the one that I wanted. We were just really lucky that we were able to secure her.

“She is family owned and hopefully she becomes a potential broodmare to refresh the broodmare paddock.”

Bambry is a keen supporter of US Navy Flag, a multiple Group One winning son of War Front who shuttles to the Oaks Stud, having initially shuttled to Valachi Downs. He is also the sire of Group Two placed To Catch A Thief, who contests Saturday’s Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m).

“I have a lot of time for US Navy Flag as a stallion. We have bred to him every year and I think he is probably a bit underrated. They are not big horses but they are very athletic. She has got a brilliant temperament, so if they’re like her I think the stallion is one to watch for the future,” Bambry said.

The Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on April 1 is the main aim for the filly.

“We will just plot a path to the sires,” Bambry said. “I think she will relish getting out to the 1400m.”

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