10 Mar 2023Chenzel added performance to her illustrious pedigree when she made short work of her rivals over 1400 metres at Pakenham.
Prepared for us by Ben and JD Hayes, the daughter of Snitzel and the G1 Auckland Cup winner Chenille was ridden aggressively by Luke Nolan and his confidence in the mare wasn’t misplaced.
Nolan was caught wide early from a wide gate and pressed on to make the running and the four-year-old travelled comfortably at the head of affairs.
She slipped clear with 400 metres to run to make it game, set and match at just her fourth appearance.
“She’s been a real work in progress and her last couple of starts had been good and it’s a great thrill to get the win for Brendan and Jo and hopefully the mare will go on with it,” Ben Hayes said.
Chenzel had previously finished a resuming fourth at Geelong before she finished runner-up at Wodonga.
Bred by Group 1-winning trainer Tony Pike with his parents Wayne and Vicki, we bought Chenzel out of Bhima Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale for A$300,000.
She is the first foal of the Pentire mare Chenille who is a half-sister to the G2 Rich Hill Mile winner Chintz, dam of our G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Not An Option, and the immediate family of dual Group 1 winner Mo’Unga.