Horse racing: Monarch Chimes earns late call-up

Monarch Chimes (right) won at Pakenham on April 15 and will tackle today's A$150,000 Brierly Steeplechase. Picture / Getty Images

The trainers of talented Kiwi jumper Monarch Chimes are optimistic about his chances of feature success at Warrnambool today after securing 11th hour qualification to contest the Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) and Thursday's Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m).

Co-trainer Emma-lee Browne said the six-year-old had taken benefit from his winning Australian debut and, despite an innocuous fall in a trial last week, will line up in peak physical condition after a successful schooling session on Sunday.

Monarch Chimes, rated a $3.70 chance today, accounted for Brierly rivals Dormello Mo ($6) and Now And Zen ($6) at Pakenham.

Browne is excited about the prospect of facing Australia's premier jumper, the Patrick Payne-trained Zed Em, for the first time today.

"The confidence levels are pretty good, especially after what he showed us at Pakenham," Browne told Racing.com. "That was his first run over jumps for the season and he really needed it.

"He came through that run in super order and a lot of that probably has to do with being able to stay with Natalie [Young] and Trent [Busuttin] at Cranbourne. It's a huge asset being based there and it's helped the horse settle in so quickly.

"He had a little bit of a hiccup at the trials last week where he basically slipped and fell on the flat after jumping the last fence but there were no issues with him and he schooled beautifully there [on Sunday] so he's got his ticket.

"The only little concern I have is the lack of rain because we think he's a better horse on rain-affected ground."

Today's A$150,000 Brierly Steeplechase is the son of Shinko King's primary target at Warrnambool but Browne said he remains a strong chance to back up in Thursday's $350,000 jumping showpiece.

"We'll definitely accept for the Annual because we're here, he's feeling well and we're booked on a flight back to New Zealand next week," she said. "But our main focus at the moment is the Brierly so we'll tackle that first and see how he comes out of it before we make a firm decision on the Annual."

Browne also confirmed that last-start group three Auraria Stakes (1800m) placegetter Belle Du Nord would return to New Zealand for a spell instead of tackling Saturday's group one Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.

Meanwhile, group one winner Thee Auld Floozie has run her last race. The six-year-old Cambridge mare signed off on Saturday when she finished a game sixth in the Travis Stakes at Te Rapa.

"She was pretty straightforward to deal with and we never had much go wrong with her," part-owner and trainer Stephen Marsh said.

The winner of 11 of her 38 starts, the daughter of Mastercraftsman's career highlight was her victory in last season's group one Thorndon Mile (1600m). She also claimed two editions of the group two Westbury Classic (1400m), the group three Sunline Vase (2100m), the Listed Swap Contractors (1400m) and twice finished runner-up in the group one New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m).

"I'd love to have a few more like her in the stable," Marsh said.

- Additional reporting, NZ Racing Desk