Charmont to tackle Travis Stakes following gritty Breeders’ win

Bonneval
Oaks winner Bonneval was only one of four wins on Saturday for Team Baker/Forsman, which included Charmont at Te Rapa

TRAINERS Murray Baker and Andrews Forsman scored the Australian Oaks win at Randwick with Bonneval, but it was only minutes earlier when Charmont won the Group 1 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes in New Zealand.

The well-bred mare by High Chaparral didn’t have the star quality that Bonneval possessed, but after being a bridesmaid throughout most of its career, it finally scored the big win at Te Rapa on Saturday.

It had placed in races such as the NZ Oaks, Sunline Vase and the Manawatu Classic, but the five-year-old was too tough in the concluding stages to hold out favourite Thee Auld Floozie and stablemate Mime.

Co-trainer Andrews Forsman was delighted with the win and gave a special mention to its owner Bob Emery who couldn’t be on track.

“That was a great win and she really deserves it,” Forsman said. “She’s been group one placed and she’s been thereabouts in really strong races all the way through her career.

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“I’m rapt for Bob Emery. He’s been a great owner, very patient. He’s let us do our own thing and place her right. This is a great result for him. I’m gutted he’s not here today – he’s a bit crook at home at the moment. Hopefully this will help him pick up a little bit.”

Charmont improved on its record at Te Rapa with seven starts for two wins and three placings. It will likely return to Te Rapa later in the month for the Travis Stakes.

“Obviously the Travis Stakes is a possible target, both for her and for Mime,” Forsman said. “Mime is another mare who’s gone close in a lot of really good races and deserves to win a big one. She went another top race today.”

It was a memorable day for the Bake/Forsman team which also trained smart winners Love Affair, the unbeaten Let Me Roar – which punters should expect to see in Australia this spring, and of course Bonneval winning at Randwick.

“It’s amazing to have a run like this,” Forsman said. “I guess you just have to make the most of it and enjoy it while it lasts, because then you can also have times where nothing seems to go your way.

“When that’s happening, the harder you try, the worse things seem to get.

“This run of results has been a real credit to all of the great staff we’ve got at home.”

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