Picket Fence for Reliable Man Gelding

Media Release - Monday October 16

Grey gelding Chattahoochee has been a stable favourite for trainer Debbie Sweeney for some time and he is quickly taking the mantle as the stable star as well.

At Hastings on Saturday the son of Reliable Man recorded his fourth win from his last five starts in the Tumu Supplies Premier (1600m), and Sweeney believes there are plenty more wins left in the five-year-old. 

Chattahoochee winning at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

“It was very impressive considering he drew barrier 12 and he was three-wide the whole way. It was a tough effort,” Sweeney said.

“Chattahoochee is like the stable pet. He is just a lovely, quiet and relaxed horse - everyone loves him. He is very spoilt and that was even before he was fast.

“He has won four from five now, so he has been very impressive. He has been very adaptable, and I think he is a horse that has a lot of ability. Hopefully he can carry on with it.”

Chattahoochee will now head for a well-deserved break before being set for some loftier autumn targets.

“We are going to turn him out for four to six weeks now and then get him back up and going around early March,” Sweeney said.

Advertisement

“We’ll possibly look at the Easter Handicap (G.3, 1600m) and there are some nice races over the Carnival at Ellerslie, so we will try and target some bigger races.”

Sweeney has swiftly turned her attention to racing this week where she will line-up a handful of runners.

“I have got a couple at Tauranga on Wednesday – Kiwi Man and Mr Nice,” she said.

“Kiwi Man showed a fair bit of promise last year and is a staying horse. He is going over a mile on Wednesday and once he gets over ground I think he will be a horse to keep an eye on.

“Clever Ruds is lining up on Saturday (at Te Rapa). She is very honest and tries really hard. She ran second last time at Hastings. Hopefully we can get some black-type with her this time around. She has shown enough.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Reliable Man

Reliable Man in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
High Hopes for Pencarrow Stud Homebred Farnan Filly
Passiflora will provide her connections with a sound guide at Tauranga as to where she sits in the three-year-old pecking order.
600k Fantasy World Heads Third Day of Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
FANTASY WORLD was one of three lots to realise 500,000 guineas or more on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale which saw significant increases to the median, average and turnover from the equivalent session in 2024.
2025 Victoria Derby Pedigree Preview - Who is Bred to Stay?
The Group I VRC Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday is worth a whopping $2 million and the testing trip of 2500m means a lot of horses are not going to see it out strongly and this looks a competitive year with no G1 winners engaged and a full field of up and comers set to do battle, so let’s see what the pedigrees have to say.
Karaka Millions and NZB Kiwi Opportunities in Ready to Run Sale
More than ever before, horses bought from the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka will be eligible to compete for significant prize-money within 18 months of their purchase.
Aussie Bred Sprinter to Run in G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint This Weekend
Australian spring racing might appear to be the centre of the universe in our neck of the woods, but in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend it is all about the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California and an Aussie bred sprinter could be poised to spring an upset.
Vin Cox to Join Forces with Star Thoroughbreds
Leading Australian syndicator Star Thoroughbreds has announced it will be partnering with Vin Cox for the 2026 yearling sales season.
One To Watch – Wyong
With her half-brother Private Eye set to line up in Saturday's $3m ATC Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick, 3yo Shalaa (IRE) filly Confidentiality broke her maiden on Thursday at Wyong at just her second start for trainer Joe Pride.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 28
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Dream Comes True for Kiwi Owner Breeders
Heather and Peter Crofskey are pinching themselves as they prepare to hop on a flight to Melbourne to watch their pride and joy Leica Lucy contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Walker Upbeat Heading into Flemington
Trainer Mark Walker will have a two-pronged attack on the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, headed by last start Listed 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) winner Azazel, with lightly-tried McWoody also making the field.