BABY AND A GROUP 1 - HOW GOOD WOULD THAT BE?

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023: IT could be the biggest of “doubles” for Marc Chevalier!

Aside from chasing victory with his Group 1 runner at Royal Randwick tomorrow, the Hawkesbury trainer and his wife Charlotte are awaiting even more important news - the arrival of a new addition to their family.

“Charlotte is pregnant with our baby son, and is due anytime in the next few days,” a bubbly Chevalier said today.

“I had a runner at Moruya today ($2.90 favorite Criminal Art was runner-up in the 1650m Maiden Plate) but chose not to go as I didn’t want to leave Charlotte alone.

“The doctor has told us to expect our first baby anytime in the next few days.”

It’s an exciting time for the couple with Chevalier looking forward to saddling his first Group 1 runner, Torrens, in tomorrow’s $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m).

The seven-year-old stallion, to be ridden by Jenny Duggan, who has ridden him four times for three wins, is unbeaten from three starts over The Metropolitan course.

Earlier this week, Torrens was at $101 when the barriers were drawn on Tuesday morning, but he has firmed to $61 with TAB.com.au.

‘Some of our friends got $201 about him,” Chevalier said.

“I gave Torrens an exercise gallop toward the end of trackwork at Hawkesbury this morning, and he felt great.

“It has taken time to get him into racing trim after he pulled a muscle in the lead-up race to the Sydney Cup in April, and had to be rested.

“Hopefully, it will be a weekend we will never forget.”

There are three withdrawals – Hosier, topweight Knight’s Order and Future History - from the staying feature, reducing the field to 15.

Torrens will now jump from barrier 10.