War Chant (USA) filly Dainty Tess could be stakes-bound following a far from straightforward victory at Ascot.

Racing first-up after a stable scare last week, she was held up in the straight before splitting the leaders in the Passages Resource Centre Plate (1000m) on Saturday.  “I was confident after she trialled at Lark Hill on Monday,” trainer Dan Morton said.  “Then she got cast on Thursday night but trotted up without any worries this morning.”

Dainty Tess has earned $92,700 in prizemoney and Westspeed bonuses after back-to-back wins at Ascot.  “It was a good performance today,” Morton added.  “When the run came she got the job done.  She’s push-button.”

Jockey Willie Pike was very impressed after bringing the winner back to scale.  “She jumped and travelled and didn’t hesitate to go through the gap.  She’s calm, adaptable and was pretty sharp when she let down.”

Dainty Tess is the first winner for Classic Smile (Bletchley Park) who won a Belmont juvenile for Yarradale Stud owner Ron Sayers and Nic Giorgetta before going to stud.  She has a filly and a colt by Frost Giant (USA) in the wings and was bred back to War Chant in October.

War Chant (Danzig) is 13th on the Australian second-season list with the winners of 17 races headed by Silent Sedition (LR Bendigo Guineas).  He had 14 lots sell to $82,500 at the Perth Magic Millions in February and top-price was the colt from Bletchley Park mare Magical Memories.

DAINTY TESS
Photo / Western Racepix