Racing
Superbly bred colt Chicama gets on the board
Progressive three-year-old Chicama is on a long-term path towards the Sydney autumn carnival.
Joe Pride's black-type aspirations for Chicama might not be realised this campaign but he is hopeful the blue-blooded colt can chime into some of the autumn carnival features next year.
A recent addition to the stable, Chicama is a Written Tycoon half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Shoals and fetched $1.35 million at the yearling sales.
Having just his second start for his new trainer following a midweek placing at Rosehill last month, Chicama showed tenacity to fend off the challenge of runner-up Augusta National and win Wednesday's Keenland November Breeding Stock Sale Handicap (1400m) by a short neck.
Pride said the colt remained a work in progress but had natural ability.
"He needed to do that here today," Pride said.
"He's a colt and he's obviously very well bred. He's an expensive horse.
"He came in good order, but we had a bit to work on with his temperament, and I think he's getting there."
Pride is keen to keep the bar relatively low for Chicama this campaign but hopes that once he matures, he can develop into a stakes-class performer.
"He is a pretty laidback customer but eventually that's going to play into his hands," he said.
"He's just got to learn a bit about race craft and when he does, he will keep improving."
"I'd be hoping he can be a stakes horse in the autumn, but he's got a little bit to go to get there."
Peter Snowden also has his sights on the autumn with Nitro following his breathtaking debut win in the Inglis Ready2Race Sale Tomorrow Plate (1200m).
In a seemingly impossible position at the top of the straight, the three-year-old unleashed a devastating finish to blouse his rivals with Snowden keen to use this spring to season him ahead of next year's carnival races.
"He's always showed a lot. Even at his first trial, before the Breeders' Plate, he trialled like a gun but he pulled up sore afterwards so he had to go out," Snowden said.
"It has been a long time getting him back. But he is very talented.
"He has come in so late and he's just starting to build his racing profile. We'll poke along and go through the grades for now, but I'm sure in the autumn and winter time you'll see a really nice horse."
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