Crowning Glory For The Queens Gambit

Exciting juvenile filly The Queens Gambit (NZ) (Captain Crunch) was rewarded for her consistency when taking out the Group Three Helen Pope 2YO Fillies Classic (1700m) at Ashburton on Sunday.

Co-bred by trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety under their Ontario Breeding banner, the daughter of Captain Crunch was initially offered at NZB Standardbred’s 2024 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch, but failed to meet her $80,000 reserve.

 With The Queens Gambit having now won two and placed in one of her six starts to date, she had placed in the Group Two Delightful Lady Classic (1700m) and ran fourth in the Group Two 2YI Fillies Bracelet (1980m) leading into Sunday’s fillies feature, and while her trainers were offshore on holiday, she was left in the capable hands of their son Carter, who drives the filly, and he was full of confidence ahead of Sunday’s meeting.

That confidence was reflected in the sulky, with the Canterbury reinsman positive off the mobile arm, taking The Queens Gambit straight to the lead where he dictated the tempo and guided his charge to a comfortable three-quarter of a length victory.

“It is a great race to win. I was pretty happy with her this week and she felt awesome,” Carter Dalgety said.

“I couldn’t believe it (when left unchallenged upfront), it was like Christmas. I got to slow it up and go as quick as I wanted. She can hold a pretty fast speed for a long time so I got going a little bit after the half and she jogged it.

“It’s awesome to drive and race this filly, the family bred her and raced the mother as well.

“They are watching from afar and I bet they will be thrilled.”

Dalgety said The Queens Gambit will now head for a break before targeting more feature spoils later this year.

“She heads to the paddock now,” he said. “She has had a big few months, so she deserves it. It is good to go out on a high.”

The Queens Gambit is out of five-win mare Gemma Mac (NZ) (Art Major), a full-sister to multiple Group One winner Merlin (NZ) , and hails from broodmare gem Scuse Me.
 

Vendor	Rosedale Farm
Purchaser	Passed In
Owner(s)	Mrs C M Dalgety, M J Harvey, K R Clark, D M Brown, C M Brown
Breeding	Captain Crunch - Gemma Mac
Sale	2024 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch (Psd Res $80,000)
Breeder(s)	Ontario Breeding Ltd, M J Harvey, K R Clark, D M Brown, C M Brown