Change of Plans for Chapada

Trainer Mike Moroney has been forced to change his plans for locally bred galloper Chapada (Bullet Train-Diamantina Dior, by Oasis Dream) after he failed to win the Listed Mornington Cup and gain a ballot exemption for the Gr1 Caulfield Cup, reports racing.com. "As we didn't win the ticket into the Caulfield Cup at Mornington, it's all changed now," Moroney said. "We're sort of the opinion that he's only lightly into his preparation and he could go there (to Sydney), have those two runs and then work out what we're going to target in the spring. It's just whether he gets 3200 metres and the Sydney Cup is usually a weaker version than the Melbourne Cup, so we might as well find out. He's fully mature now so it's his turn to repay us for our patience." Chapada and stablemate Sound (Lando-Sky Dancing, by Exit to Nowhere) will run in this Saturday's Gr1 Tancred Stakes, then head to the Gr1 Sydney Cup on 17 April. Chapada is currently a $26 chance for the Tancred with South at $34. Colette (Hallowed Crown-Libretto, by Singspiel) and Melody Belle (Commands-Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) share the favourite's tag at $5. Chapada ran fifth in the Listed Mornington Cup last start, and third in the Gr1 Australian Cup at the start prior. He now has three wins and ten placings from 28 starts and over $1 million in earnings. His best win to date is the 2020 Gr2 Herbert Power Stakes (see below). Chapada was a $32,500 graduate from the Bowness Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.