Track conditions key for Chenin

A spate of firmer tracks have been a key factor in the consistent form of well-related mare Chenin, who will chase her first Saturday metropolitan win at Randwick.

Like big brother and two-time Group 1 winner Shadow Hero, Chenin has an aversion to rain-affected ground, as evidenced in the autumn when she was well-beaten in two heavy track appearances in stakes races.

Since kicking off her current campaign with a fifth to Picarones on a soft track in October, Chenin has managed a top-three finish in five of her six subsequent runs, the only blot to her copybook an unplaced effort in the Belle Of The Turf Stakes at Gosford two starts ago.

“She got stuck behind a tiring horse at the 600 and it just dragged her out of the race,” trainer Mark Newnham said of the Gosford run.

“That’s the only time she has missed a place on good ground and we had an excuse.

“Mares in form that are finding suitable races and suitable tracks, they are always hard to beat wherever you run them.”

Chenin lines up in the Fujitsu General Handicap (1600m) at Randwick and has drawn barrier four with Tyler Schiller to ride.

A Saturday city win is the goal for now but given the four-year-old’s pedigree, Newnham is keen to give Chenin another shot at some valuable black-type when the time is right.

“At the moment, if she could win a Saturday class race, boost her rating a bit, then eventually we’ll look for something better,” he said.

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