Chivalry stakes serious Blue Diamond Stakes 2014 claim

Strapping two-year-old Chivalry is headed for a possible Group One Blue Diamond Stakes start after a bustling win at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

In only his second race start, the Mark Kavanagh-trained colt was beaten for speed out of the gates and was checked in the early stages before settling second last in the Quest Moonee Valley Plate (1000m).

Chivalry winning the Quest Moonee Valley Plate at Moonee Valley ridden by Stephen Baster and trained by Mark Kavanagh - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)
Chivalry winning the Quest Moonee Valley Plate at Moonee Valley ridden by Stephen Baster and trained by Mark Kavanagh – (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)

But he made up ground along the rails at the turn before taking a run between horses in the straight to go on and score decisively.

Kavanagh said it was an important win for Chivalry ($3.20) and confirmed he is a horse of the future.

Kavanagh said Chivalry would return to the paddock but how long he spends there depends on the horse’s progress.

“He’ll do the talking,” said Kavanagh.

“We have in our mind he is going to be better at three, but he is really good right now.”

“We have to work out whether we go forward right now or wait and see what we have got here.”

Jockey Stephen Baster said the plan was to lead early “but that went out the window after 50 metres”.

“The further he got the stronger he got and as we got to the line he was doing it pretty easy.”

Chivalry defeated Bugatty ($9) by 1-3/4 lengths with Akhlaaq ($7) a long head away third.

The much-hyped South Australian Eclair Choice, the $2.50 favourite, raced handy to the speed but just missed out the placings.

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