Top staying prizes await Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s connections believe it’s only a matter of time before the blueblood is a stakes winner.

The four-year-old was to have ended his current campaign in the Listed New Zealand St Leger, but his Trentham finale was ruled out by injury.

“We had to turn him out after he banged a leg, it’s a pity because we thought he would win that,” said Stephen Autridge, who prepares the son of High Chaparral with Jamie Richards.

“He’s bred to improve with time and he’s certainly doing that.”

A half-brother to this year’s $1.3 million Karaka sale-topping Frankel colt, Bordeaux was gelded after he failed to flatter on debut as a three-year-old. He was unplaced in two further runs on his return before he was turned out again.

He has been a revelation this season with consecutive wins at Hastings and New Plymouth before placings at Te Rapa and Ellerslie.

Bordeaux then reeled off an impressive hat-trick of staying victories at Te Rapa (twice) and in the St Leger Trial at Otaki.

“He’s just getting better all the time and unfortunately we had to put him out after that last win when he hurt himself, but it’s nothing major,” Autridge said.

“He’ll be back later in the year and the further he goes the better he’ll be – we think he’s going to be a serious cups’ horse.”