Chintz back where it all began

Group winning mare Chintz is back in familiar surroundings at Cambridge with her former part-owner Tony Pike.

The daughter of Savabeel was prepared by Pike, who raced her with his parents Wayne and Vicki, to win six of her 17 starts.

Chintz hit a purple patch of form early last year with victory in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile and in the autumn she added the Gr.3 Westbury Classic and placed at Group One level in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and the Easter Handicap.

She was subsequently sold to the New South Wales stud farm Newhaven Park and joined the Sydney stable of Joseph Pride.

“Her form tailed off in Sydney where she probably wasn’t handling that environment,” Pike said.

“They rang me and asked if they could send her here and see if I could get her back into form.”

Pike’s task will begin on Saturday at Tauranga where Chintz will resume her New Zealand career in the Mills Reef Sprint.

“The 1200 metres will be too short for her, but it will help to build her confidence again,” he said. “She’s been here two weeks now and she’s been working very well.”

Providing Chintz continues to progress well, she may be given a chance at Te Aroha to improve on her Breeders’ Stakes placing of last year behind Viadana and Recite.