Chenille Wins the Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup

Quality staying mare Chenille (NZ) (Pentire) bounced back to top form with a determined win in the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup at the Karaka Million Twilight Meeting today.

Ridden by Leith Innes, the five-year-old sprinted out of midfield in the straight and clawed her way past Team Pete (NZ) (St. Petersburg). She withstood a fierce challenge from her own stablemate Sacred Shot (NZ) (Savabeel) and scored by a neck.

Chenille has now had 24 starts for seven wins, eight placings and $217,375 in prize-money. Chenille is trained by Tony Pike, who bred the mare along with his parents Wayne and Vicki. The Pikes also share ownership of Chenille with G & Mrs J Capes.

Pike was delighted to see the mare win today, and a stable quinella made it even better.

“She’s a quality mare,” the Cambridge trainer said.

“It was a super run from Sacred Shot as well, he’s an exciting horse. This is a great result.”

Chenille is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel). She was offered by Longlands Stud at the 2013 Premier Sale, where Chris Waller Racing purchased her for $55,000.

This year’s Windsor Park Stud Karaka Stayers Cup was open to all yearlings sold or passed at the National Yearling Sale Series. From 2018 horses will need to be nominated for the Karaka Million Series to enter the Karaka Stayers Cup.