Astute trainer Phillip Stokes was back in the winner’s circle at Flemington on Saturday when progressive Charm Spirit (IRE) gelding Sansom nailed his first Black Type win when taking out the Group III VRC Chatham Stakes (1400m).
Group III placed earlier in the year, Sansom has built an impressive record in easier races and looked good when resuming from a spell to win an open handicap at Moonee Valley last month over 1200m.
Well rated in front by Ben Allen, Sansom was determined to the line, holding off all challengers to win by a short head taking his overall record to eight wins and four placings from 17 starts with prizemoney topping $400,000.
“He’s going super. He’s a much stronger horse this time in,” said Phillip stokes.
“Ben Allen did a lot of the early work on this horse, so this win will mean a lot to him.
“1400m is as far as he wants, but he has plenty more wins in store. He’s a Magic Millions horse, so we might have a look at the Gold Coast in January for him.”
A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer from the Kitchwin Hills draft, Sansom was bred by Qatar Bloodstock and is the first foal of winning Fastnet Rock mare Bryony, a full sister to Group I winner Heroic Valour and three-quarter sister to Group I winner and $2.2million earner Triple Honour.
Bryony has foaled this spring producing another filly by Charm Spirit, who shuttles to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand.
Sansom is the ninth stakes-winner for Charm Spirit, a Group I winning son of Invincible Spirit.
