Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A Cups type in the making, Vougeot (5 g Eminent – Montrachet, by High Chaparral) recorded a stylish maiden victory in the $18,500 New Lynn Maiden 2100 metres on 8 October at Avondale.
A trial winner on the course in June, with race day rider George Rooke aboard, Vougeot brought form of fourth and two fifths, most recently over 2100 metres on 5 September at Ruakaka, and Trackside Presenter Brendan Popplewell got it dead right when interviewing trainer Pam Gerard before the race.
Although she had reservations about the chances of Vougeot on heavy footing, the progeny of Eminent (Frankel) have been showing to handle it of late and he quickened nicely in the going.
Prior to the race, Gerard said: “He’s gradually improving, still very green and learning, but he’ll keep running through the ground.
“If he can keep improving, going through the grades, I’d really like to see him over a Cups trip in a year or two. It’s just a matter of being patient, doing the right thing by him, and getting there slowly.
“He’s really grown up and I’ve been impressed by how he’s handled things today.”
After beginning well from the outside gate (13) for Rooke, Vougeot dropped his head in midfield, was eighth at the 1000m, and kept mounting a run from the 600m to arrest the lead 100m out and got through the line in good fashion.
“I think, today, being the first race, it (track) didn’t walk as bad as being a Heavy10, and he got through it quite well,” Rooke said.
“I liked him when he trialled round here, he hit the line good and he’s very one paced. But today he did everything right, got a lovely position, travelled great, got an honest gallop, I had something to aim at, and although a bit green under pressure he’s going to make a good stayer, for sure.”
On footing rated Heavy10, Vougeot ran 2100 metres in 2:20.3, last 600m in 36.5 (approx.), and paid $11.80 & $3.60 on the NZ TAB tote.
“The owner (H N Smart) has been so patient with him,” Gerard said. “He showed quite a bit early, Cameron Lammas had quite a high rating of him, but we couldn’t get a gallop out of him, so we put in the paddock for six months and he came back a different horse.
“He’s a big, rangy, horse and has continued to work it out and get better and better. He’s had a bit of time (35 days) between runs, I had my doubts about the ground, but I can’t wait to see him in Cup races in the future.
“It was a beautiful ride from George (Rooke). He put him in midfield, he’s learnt to settle in amongst horses, and I love to see them running home like that. He’s got a massively long stride and it’s a good look when you see them running home strongly.”
Vougeot is by Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent, trained by Sir Mark Todd and owned by Sir Peter Vela, a Group Two winner and dual Group One placed son of peerless racehorse and sire Frankel (Galileo) – currently leading the TRC Global Sires Rankings.
Dam Montrachet, by world-class racehorse and hugely successful sire of sires and Champion Broodmare Sire High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), won five races (1400m – 1800m), and a half-sister to triple Group One staying horse Vosne Romanee (Electronic Zone), Champion Middle Distance winner and New Zealand Horse of the Year.
It is also the family of nine-time winning stayer Hear That Bell (Ring the Bell), who included the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr. 2, 2500m), and another nine-time winner Allegro (Red Tempo), a triple Group One winner and Joint Leading Three-Year-Old.
Vougeot carries bloodline crosses to Sadler’s Wells and Darshaan.
Vougeot was strapped by Scotty Magee.