Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery at Race Images Palmerston North
Bambry fills a number of roles within the industry and as well as running her Foxton stable also breeds with her family from a handful of mares and spent time at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale assisting Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham.
She successfully offered two youngsters during the Book 1 session through the Curraghmore draft, but will be back at the other end of the North Island on Saturday with G1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile contender Deerfield.
Bambry sold a Shocking colt, Lot 232, for NZ$100,000 with the ticket signed by agent Phill Cataldo and Mitch Freedman Racing. He is out of the three-time winner and Listed Wanganui Guineas placegetter Acquisto (NZ) (Thewayyoure {USA}).
Her son of Tivaci, Lot 121, was purchased for NZ$60,000 by the Auckland-based Brewers Bloodstock and is out of Sitting On A Hill (NZ) (City On A Hill {USA}).
She was a winner and placed in the G3 Eulogy S. and at stud has produced Wanganui Guineas winners Lord Turbo (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) and Alcaldesa (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}).
“I’ve been working for Gordon and it’s been a bit of a juggling act, but we got there,” Bambry said.
Group 1 focus
Her focus now turns to Deerfield, who will be lining up in elite company for the fourth time during a lengthy preparation and finished fifth in the G1 Tarzino Trophy, third in the G1 Captain Cook S. and most recently was sixth in the G1 Telegraph.
Deerfield and rider Sam O’Malley were 6.9l adrift of the winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) after an incident at barrier rise.
“Sam came in and said he stumbled out of the gates and I thought it had taken him a little bit to get going. He must have over-reached, as when we got him back to the tie-up stalls he had a chunk off his heel,” Bambry said.
“I bandaged it up and he was pretty sore for the next couple of days. We wouldn’t have beaten the winner, but it did hold him back.
“He’s really good now and galloped very well on Tuesday so he deserves to have a crack at the race.”
Deerfield (NZ) (pink silks) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Deerfield has been kept busy and Bambry said the gelding revelled on a regular diet of racing.
“People all have their opinions and keep saying he needs a spell, but he’s thriving on racing and doing so well. His coat is as good as it’s ever been and so are his bloods.
“People all have their opinions and keep saying he needs a spell, but he’s thriving on racing and doing so well.” – Chrissy Bambry
“He loves the work and while he’s good we’ll try and make hay while the sun shines.
“He has got a lot of ability and just has a heart of gold. He tries every time he goes out there and if all horses tried as hard as him it would be an easy game.
“He likes Trentham and every time he’s gone there he has done us proud. It seems a logical race for him.”
Chief rival
Deerfield’s chief rival looms as the top-class Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who will be resuming after a break and trainer Jamie Richards is more than happy with the mare’s condition for her first-up assignment.
“She’s been working well and has had a trial so she’s ready to go,” he said.
Melody Belle won the G1 Windsor Park Plate and the G1 Livamol Classic before ending her spring campaign when third in the G1 Mackinnon S.
Another leading prospect is Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), who won the G1 Captain Cook S. over this course and distance last month.
Rock On Wood (NZ) | Image courtesy of Grant Matthew at Race Images Palmerston North
He has since finished a luckless fourth in the G1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and regular rider Ryan Elliot said he has come through the run well.
“His run in the Zabeel was very good, he was just a little bit unlucky that In A Twinkling came down to the fence and cut our run up. Apparently, he has come through his run in the Zabeel really well.
“He has been working superb, he has been going up and down the beach and he has had a few nice gallops at the track as well, so he is on track.”
