One to Watch – Mornington

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday December 13
The late great High Chaparral (IRE) is having a season to remember with Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling and Victory Derby winner Ace High among his stakes-winners.

Rancho Chaparro as a yearlingHe featured at Mornington on Wednesday as the sire of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained first starter Rancho Chaparro, who turned in a tenacious effort to post his first win.

He led all the way in the 1500 metre maiden and although tired on the line given it was his first start, the three year-old stuck to his guns to claim a head win.

A $145,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft for First Light Racing / Gai Waterhouse Racing / J Blaxland, Rancho Chaparro has a big team of owners and a birhgt future judging by this debut victory.

Rancho Chaparro is a half-brother to stakes-placed Le Mans and is the second winner for Amouage, whose dam Sursum Corda is a Group I placed sister to Group I winners Champagne and St Reims.

High Chaparral has already worked with this family to produce Group I winner Charmont, while another star member of this family is current season performer Bonneval, a triple Group I winner $1.6 million.



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