Popular grey Chattahoochee made a pleasing return to the races at Matamata last month for part-owner Lisa Anderson, and the Cambridge horsewoman is looking forward to giving him his first stakes test under her care in the Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga on Saturday.
The son of the late Westbury Stud stallion Reliable man had his first start in nearly a year when fifth in the $350,000 Wairere Falls Classic (1500m), and Anderson was rapt with the first-up effort on a Heavy9 surface.
“He went a huge run at Matamata fresh-up, it was his first run in 10 months, he drew outside and the track was pretty heavy,” she said.
Previously in the care of Debbie Sweeney, Anderson elected to pre-train the gelding when he returned from a lengthy spell and subsequently decided to press on towards the races with the seven-year-old.
“He went to Melbourne and ran in that greys race the year before (2024) and he had a really long campaign,” Anderson said. “We brought him back and he won another one and then he went to the Easter Handicap (Gr.3, 1600m) and he was a bit disappointing and probably had come to the end of it.
“He hadn’t had a long break, so we gave him a decent spell.
“I had another horse in work so I said I would get him ready and I have ended up just keeping him. I had two in work, so it was easier to work two than one.”
Anderson has enjoyed having Chattahoochee in her care after enjoying watching him win seven races for Sweeney, and finish runner-up in the 2024 edition of the Easter Handicap behind Group One winner Snazzytavi.
“He is really hard to give up because he is gorgeous and he knows it. He is a really awesome horse to have around,” Anderson said.
Initially raced by breeder The Oaks Stud, Chattahoochee is out of Group Three performer Auspicious, who Anderson had previously trained, and her link with the mare attracted her to purchase her son off gavelhouse.com for $8,250.
“I trained his mum, Auspicious, for the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m),” Anderson said. “When he came up on Gavelhouse he hadn’t done a lot and I spoke to Rick (Williams, The Oaks Stud General Manager) and he said he was sound and he probably just needed a bit of time.
“We took a punt on him and put him in the paddock. I got him ready up to a trial stage and then gave him to Debbie because I was so busy with work and then he started winning. She did an amazing job, she won seven races with him.
“Everybody loves him, he is definitely a bit of a favourite.”
Anderson is looking forward to lining him up for the second time on Saturday where he has drawn barrier six and will be ridden by Joe Doyle.
“He has a good course and distance record,” she said. “At set weights and penalties he is probably not as well off as he would be if it was a handicap, but in saying that, he is bright and well and I can’t fault him. He is a happy horse.”
All going well after Saturday, Anderson said she would love to head towards the Easter Handicap with Chattahoochee and try to win the race sponsored by his part-owner Brian Black.
“Through this we would love to win the Easter,” Anderson said. “Brian and I own him together and Brian sponsors the Manco Easter Handicap. He has a lot of horses in work and he is a massive supporter of New Zealand racing.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
