THE old racing adage that ‘it doesn’t matter what they’re called as long as they’re called first’ was in play yesterday when the oddly-named Chubby Chipmunk became Bel Danoro’s first Australian winner.
The Bindi Cheers-trained gelding had no trouble disposing of his nine rivals winning the McDonalds Thunderbolt (1100m) at Armidale by 1.3-lens.
Chubby Chipmunk is starting to build an impressive record with one win and two seconds from just four career starts.
Already he has earnings of $17,300 – most of that due to a BOBS which Bel Danoro and of his associate sires at Vinery participate in.
Chubby Chipmunk’s bank is a significant return of Cheer’s $5000 outlay for the colt at the 2010 Dubbo Yearling sale.
As well as being a close relation to Cheers’ stable star Lucky Elmo, Chubby Chipmunk is the first foal of the Marwina mare Mollani and shares the page with stakeswinners Razor Blade, Doubtful Jack, Curtana and the classy sprinter/miler Sunburnt Land.
Chubby Chipmunk’s fifth dam is Chicquita – a champion racemare from 1949 to 1951 and the producer of 1964 Golden Slipper winner, Eskimo Prince.
HOOFNOTE: Chubby Chipmunk’s win came soon after Bel Danoro sired his first winner, Forever My Love, who won at Manila’s premier San Lazaro racetrack last month.
