Handsome Toronado (IRE) gelding Chartres was richly rewarded for his consistency with a career highlight success in Saturday's $500,000 The VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Given an inspired ride by Ethan Brown, the Matt Laurie-trained gelding kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the Helmet filly, Eventually, by three-quarter of a length, with the Helmet colt, The Claimant, the same distance back in third.
Third in the Group III Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 26, Chartres advances his record to three wins, a second and a third from eight starts with earnings of $436,500.
He's a genuine little horse; he doesn't run a bad race and was really well placed against this field today, so it was good to see him put them away," Laurie said.
"He's a horse that keeps making good solid progression; he comes into the race at the right time, responds to pressure, is very genuine. And on paper, it looked a beautiful race for him. It's great that it's come off.
"We've got a couple of things in mind for him, but this was the priority."
Brown said the son of Toronado (IRE) had not had the rub of the green in previous starts.
"He's a nice horse; not much has gone right this prep running into track bias and whatnot," Brown said.
"His work here was really good on Tuesday, so I had a head full of confidence, and he let down the way we knew he could.
"Everyone's very happy and emotional; I'm just grateful that they stuck with me, and to get the job done on a grand final, it makes everything worthwhile."
A homebred for Kristen Manning and partners, Chartres is the first winner from two to race from the winning Dylan Thomas (IRE) mare The French House, a daughter of the stakes-placed winner Deraismes (Grand Lodge).
The French House has not had a live foal since Chartres. She was covered by Brave Smash (JPN) last spring.
