Miss Chanel’s debut came in January, a time when trainer Adrian Bott had little expectation she’d still be competing on Sydney’s autumn carnival finale.
Bott was set to give her a spell post each race, but the filly has forced the hand of her connections to extend her preparation by staying competitive and earning her best-ever Group 1 result in the recent Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Come Saturday, the Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick awaits, where she hopes to emulate the seven fillies from the past 20 years who bested colts and geldings, with She’s Extreme the last in 2022.
“This is her seventh run, which is a little bit unorthodox,” Bott said.
“I can’t say it’s by design.
“She has been remarkably consistent, but each time I’ve thought it’s possibly our last run for the preparation, she seems to have put in another improved run again and done well off the back of it.
“I am mindful that at some point, she is going to have that run that says she has come to the end of her campaign, and it’s not going to be a surprise when she does.
“But off the back of what we’ve seen, she hasn’t given us any indication in her work. Her weight is great, appetite good, she’s bright in herself and a mile should really suit.”
The Champagne Stakes features other frequent racers beyond Miss Chanel.
Godolphin colt Zambales matches her with a seventh outing, while Fireball, Diameter and Persian Wonder are on six apiece.
In contrast to her rearward position and late charge in the Sires’ Produce, Bott expects Miss Chanel to sit handier from the wide gate this Saturday.
“From the draw, we’re probably going to have to be a bit more positive,” he said.
“Naturally, we think we can be stepping up to a mile, and she has sat on pace in some faster races over 1100 and 1200 earlier in the prep, so she does have tactical speed.”
Partner Gai Waterhouse boasts five Champagne Stakes victories, the most recent Pierro in 2012, though Bott and she haven’t won it jointly.
Their juveniles of late tended toward sprinting or Golden Slipper pursuits, positioning $5.50 Miss Chanel to potentially change that.
The top racing betting markets offer great value for the Champagne Stakes.
