breednet.com.au

Navajo Peak Surprises in Chelmsford stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday September 2

The outsider of the field Navajo Peak shocked everyone other than trainer David Payne when he toughed out a victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Navajo Peak toughs it out (image Steve Hart)

Expected to be a bit player behind his heavily supported former stablemate Montefilia, the 5yo son of Territories (IRE) was brave under Chad Schofield in defeating Major Beel (Savabeel) by a long neck, with Think It Over (So You Think) a half-head back in third.

With his first stakes success,  Navajo Peak advances his record to six wins and seven seconds from 18 starts with earnings of $587,500.

“People didn’t see his run the other day. He must’ve been running 14-wide and pulled him to last, so I knew there would be three lengths improvement in him,” Payne said

“We had a bit of a sneaky feeling about him. He only got beat five lengths, and people don’t look at that; they just see two horses.

Advertisement

“If you look at this form, it’s unbelievable form. He should’ve been much closer the other day; that’s the only blot on his copybook.”

Chad Schofield confirmed that Payne thought Navajo Peak was a winning chance.

“Mr Payne gave a good push to me before the race,” Schofield said.

“He just said that he got too far back last start and really got going through the line. So he said to have him on the pace today, and he’ll run well. So I did that.

“He didn’t jump well, but I pressed forward and I was caught wide. But once I got alongside Linderman, it spurred him up. He took off to the front and we really stretched along and I was able to drop in. I saw that Knights Order dropped off around the turn so I had to get on my bike and chase the leader, but it was a good win.”

A homebred for John Thompson, Navajo Peak is the only runner for the winning Authorized mare Ship Rock a granddaughter of Thompson’s Listed Christmas Cup winner and Melbourne Cup and Sydney Cup third, Lahar.

A three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I winner Pounamu, Ship Rock only had two foals before her death in 2019.

Navajo Peak is the 11th stakes-winner for the former Darley Stud shuttler Territories (Invincible Spirit).  

Advertisment

Race Result - Daily Press Chelmsford Stakes Gr2 1600m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:35.92
1
Navajo Peak
- 5g Territories (IRE) x Ship Rock (AUS) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: C Schofield 59
2
0.4
Major Beel
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Gram (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: J Parr 58.5
3
0.5
Think It Over
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Personal Service (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: K J Parker Rdr: N Rawiller 59
So You Think
4
1.3
Lindermann
- 4h Lonhro (AUS) x Self Esteem (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 58.5
5
1.4
Hoo Ya Mal
- 5g Territories (IRE) x Sensationally (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 59
6
2.2
Montefilia
- 6m Kermadec (NZ) x Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco (GER))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
7
2.5
Bold Mac
- 6g The Bold One (NZ) x Mrs Mac (NZ) (Colombia (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 59
8
2.8
Manzoice
- 4h Almanzor (FR) x Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 58.5
9
3.4
Duais
- 6m Shamus Award (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: J R Collett 57
10
4.3
Mo'unga
- 6h Savabeel (AUS) x Chandelier (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tyler Schiller 59
11
6.4
Knights Order
- 9g So You Think (NZ) x Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Rachel King 59
More Reading...
One to Watch – Ascot
Fresh from Group I success last Saturday with Cosmic Crusader, the Peters Investments colours were back in the winner’s circle at Ascot on Wednesday carried by an Extreme Choice three year-old filly that has stakes potential written all over her.
So You Think Mare Happy to Return Home to Cambridge Stud
Emerging stayer Mollify looks to have another gilt-edged opportunity to further her record on Friday and progress toward more lucrative middle-distance assignments.
He’s a Star - Durazzo Wins Listed Conquering- Half-Sister to MM Tassie
Five year-old Needs Further gelding Durazzo was a hot favourite for the $125,000 Listed Conquering Stakes (1400m) at Launceston on Wednesday night and duly collected another feature win putting the spotlight on his yearling half-sister heading to 2026 MM Tasmania.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Just the one heat for juveniles at Caulfield this morning, but the winner is a powerhouse colt by Home Affairs that looks a lot like Dad!
The Ingham – Now That is a Race Name!
The changing landscape of Australian stakes racing as we move through the 21st century has led to plenty of race name changes that have often been greeted with a mixed response, but when the G2 Villiers became the Ingham it was an immediate winner!
Sires With Winners - Wednesday December 10
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Goffs Foal Filly Purchases Prove Savvy Investment for Trilogy
Trilogy Racing have had quite the run of success leading into summer sharing in the ownership of speedy stallion Libertad, winner of the Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes and also The Three Hundred, who resumed from a spell to win the Magic Millions Wyong Stakes, but it was another of their winners that caught our eye on Wednesday.
Select Catalogue Assembled for Inaugural Karaka Summer Sale
The NZB National Yearling Sale has an exciting new addition with the inaugural Karaka Summer Sale, which has already been put in the spotlight by an unbeaten and stakes-winning juvenile. 
Shares in Group Winners Popular on Magic Millions Digital
Shares in Group One performers Overpass and Within the Law were among the most sought after lots at the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale which concluded on Wednesday.
First Aussie Winner for St Marks Basilica
The 2021 European Horse of the Year, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) is on the board with his first Australian winner after hot favourite Aristopolos made a winning debut at Launceston on Wednesday evening.