A terrific training effort by Phillip Stokes and his team saw Bennett Racing 3yo Chambers Bay win 1st up at Pakenham on Monday. The Spieth gelding was having his 5th start and his first on the synthetic surface.
Originally trained in his 1st prep to get out over a distance, Chambers Bay had shown in his jump outs this time in to be a bit sharper which had given Phil the confidence that he would be very competitive 1st up.
Previously the horse had debuted as a late 2yo over 1200m at Geelong and looked unlucky in the run and striking a heavy 8 eventually finishing 4lens of the winner. Spelled after that run and given plenty of time in the paddock, he made his return to racing 1st up over 1400m at Hamilton in December finishing a good 3rd which was followed by two close up but unplaced efforts over 1600m and 2100m respectively.
Zac Spain, who was having his first ride on Chambers Bay, settled the big boy behind the leaders on the rails and bided his time until well into the straight before unleashing with a powerful burst to put the race away quickly in good time.
The cleverly named Chambers Bay, which is a famous golf course in America, is a son of the topflight Gr1 sprinter Spieth, himself named after the former World Number 1 golfer Jordan Spieth. Although a Listed winner Spieth was 2nd in both the Gr1 Darley Classic as well as the Gr1 Lightning Stks. One of the few sons of Gr1 Stradbroke winner Thorn Park, Spieth passed away after sired only a few crops of foals. Chambers Bay is a son of the well named Bloodline who was a daughter of the top-class miler Dracula. At stud Bloodline, apart from Chambers Bay, has left the 5 time stakeswinner & Gr1 Robert Sangster Stks winner Platelet. Chambers Bay traces back to the Ingham brothers famous old Woodlands Stud and his family includes stakeswinners Hockney & Bordeaux. His 1st three dams are daughters of Multiple Champion sire Danehill, Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Luskin Star and the freakish Champion Vain.
Chambers Bay was a 22k purchase from book 2 at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale from the Valiant Stud draft. An attractive although quite a large yearling he was quite immature at the sale but moved like a gazelle for such a big horse. He has been well looked after by Phil Stokes and his team as they have taken him along quite slowly allowing him to furnish out. It has taken time for Chambers Bay to work it all out and use his big stride correctly.
Congratulations to all owners and thank you for their patience and thanks to Phil and his Team for the wonderful job they have done.
Chambers Bay became the 10th winner from Bennett Racings 15 2021 Yearling sale purchases of which 14 have raced. Amongst those 10 winners 6 have won / pl at metro level and 4 have been stakes performed.