A $170,000 Magic Millions purchase for Matchem Racing from the draft of Widden
Stud, Chabaud runs for the estate of the late Phil Sly and is the best Southern
Hemisphere bred offspring to date for Champion US Two and Three Year Old Lookin
at Lucky (USA), who shuttled to Coolmore for just one season.Prepared by Robert Smerdon, Chabaud has been very consistent since being stepped up in distance and was fifth two starts back in the Group I ATC Australian Oaks won by Sofia Rosa.
She proved her stamina again when posting an easy length and a half win in this 2500 metre staying test, taking her overall record to four wins and four placings from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $213,000.
"She had to do a bit of work early but she toughed it out well all the way to the line," said Smerdon.
"The whole scenario was tough. The plan was to get some black type as you do with the fillies and we got that in the Tasmanian Oaks.
"We sent her to Sydney for the Oaks and she had a hell of a hard run on a very heavy track so what do you do - we just kept going and we turned up here."
Smerdon praised the constitution of Chabaud, which has raced 10 times in three states since December and may not be done yet with the Group I BRC Queensland Oaks looming next month.
"She's very tough and you'd think she was possibly beyond her best but she's coped well today and we'll certainly think about Queensland in two weeks," Smerdon said.
"The travel doesn't affect her and three-year-olds racing against their own age, they can do it."
Bred by Whakanui Stud, Chabaud is the first winner for stakes-placed Rockadubai, a three-quarter sister-in-blood by Fastnet Rock to triple Group I winner Sea Siren.
