BUCHANAN A “GRAND MASTER” AGAIN

KRISTEN Buchanan is at last on the new season scoreboard - and has some thinking to do!

Not so much with Chess Master, her Port Macquarie breakthrough winner yesterday, but stablemate Tambeloa, who ran ninth to Shangri La Boy in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at the corresponding Rosehill Gardens meeting.

Magnus four-year-old Chess Master ($12), ridden by Newcastle apprentice Ben Osmond, landed the Maiden Plate (1000m) from Gosford trainer Jake Hull’s luckless debutante and well-backed favorite Dingle Grey ($2.50) to give the Wyong trainer her first success since Tambeloa was her 25^th winner of last season at a midweek Warwick Farm program on July 30.

“It’s been a while coming, and it’s nice to have a winner again,” Buchanan said today of her absence from the winner’s circle.

“Chess Master initially was trained in South Australia, and trialled once at Morphettville in August last year but didn’t race there.

“I bought Broadway Bouncer (who has won four races) as a yearling in 2022 from Bungan Street Thoroughbreds,who bred Chess Master, and met Sydney-based Mr Gereaux and his two sons.

“They kept a share, and I also train another former South Australian mare Annie’s Rose for them.

“She won the Wayne Harris Handicap at the Muswellbrook Cup meeting in March.”

Chess Master was having his third start yesterday, and was a “naughty boy” at his first run for Buchanan when he ran last at Tamworth on August 29.

“I trialled him again at Wyong, and took a tongue tie off for his next run at Kembla Grange in a Provincial Maiden Handicap (1000m) when he ran seventh,” she said.

“Chess Master dropped back to country grade yesterday, and Ben Osmond rode him exactly to instructions and did a good job.

“Obviously we were a bit lucky as the runner-up did a lot wrong and gave away a big start.

“Still we’ll take the win and hopefully that kick starts our season.”

As for lightly-raced Tambeloa, Buchanan isn’t quite sure where to go next with the Tagaloa three-year-old.

“Jay Ford won on him at Warwick Farm, and rode him again yesterday in the Gloaming,” Buchanan said.

“He feels we should go on to the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday week, but I don’t know.

“Tambeloa got too far back yesterday, and I thought he ran okay.

“The raw material is definitely there with the colt, but he is still learning.

“I’ll give him one more run this preparation, perhaps go back to an easier race, and then give him a break.

“The Gloaming was only his fifth start, and I’m sure he will come back an even better horse next time.”

. Buchanan was one of four provincial trainers successful at the second day of the Port Macquarie Cup carnival (Newcastle’s Kris Lees won the $200,000 Cup last Friday with Age Of Sail, ridden by Aaron Bullock).

Fellow Newcastle trainers Andrew MacDonald, David Atkins and Paul Perry all had winners.

MacDonald’s Jo Jo Sun ($8.50) took the CG&E Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m), Atkins’ Rockbarton Icon ($10) won the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1800m), and Perry’s Uncle Harry ($4.40) was first home in the Class 3 Handicap (1500m).

Story John Curtis, October 12, 2025