Chantski ensured the WA first-season title will go down to the wire after her brilliant first-up victory at Belmont on Saturday.
The War Chant filly sat on the pace and then accelerated to defeat highly-touted first-starter Vega Magic (Lope de Vega) in the Westspeed 2YO Plate (1000m). They streeted the rest of the field by four lengths.
Chantski was resuming from an autumn spell following a Group 3 victory in the Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) at Ascot in March. “She’s come back in good order and it was pleasing to see her jump and run with 57.5kgs,” trainer Dion Luciani said. “We missed the Karrakatta with an issue and I didn’t want to leave her in the paddock for too long.
“This prep will tell us if she can stretch out or whether she’s simply a five furlong horse. Her next start will be over 1200m in a fortnight or we might keep her for an easy kill over 1000m in three weeks.”
Lynward Park freshman Alfred Nobel ($374,850) took over at the top of the WA first-season premiership in May but his lead was reduced by Yarradale Stud sire War Chant ($357,805) on the weekend.
Chantski (2f War Chant – Endesa by Marauding) was purchased by Cliff Nock and Simon York for $60,000 at the 2014 Perth Magic Millions and Yarradale owner Ron Sayers kept a share in the filly who is a younger half-sister to Perth winner Nediym’s Ruler. Their half-brother by Scandal Keeper made $57,500 to the bid of Aquanita trainer Simon Miller at the Yarradale yearling sale last month.
War Chant (Danzig) will cover his fifth southern book at Yarradale Stud in 2015 and his service fee is available on application.