A substantial $2.6 million in prizemoney is up for grabs at Randwick this Saturday, but this figure doesn’t even approach the extraordinary amount Coolmore paid for Chayan at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May.
Although she faltered in her most significant test, the Group 1 Golden Slipper seven weeks prior, the global breeding powerhouse’s confidence in the now three-year-old filly remained unwavering. They decided to fork out such a figure for her return to racing in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m).
Training partners Annabel and Rob Archibald, who are also recent new parents, decided to give the daughter of I Am Invincible a race-day outing in familiar surroundings at Rosehill yesterday. Zac Lloyd warmed the saddle, while James McDonald was riding in Melbourne.
“She was really good and we just wanted to bring her out and get rid of that nervous energy,” Annabel said.
“She didn’t need to do a whole lot because physically she is fairly forward anyway, but it is good to get that nervous energy away.”
Archibald conceded that the soft track conditions had been a contributing factor to Chayan finishing eighth in the 1200m juvenile feature on March 21. He also noted that the filly had likely already contested her ‘grand final’ in her victory in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes over the same distance a fortnight earlier.
“She was on her toes going out for the gallop but Zac said that once she cantered off, she dropped her head and felt really good,” Archibald added, as Chayan clocked 38.63 seconds for the final 600m of her work.
“It took a while for him to pull her up but hopefully that is just blowing the cobwebs away and she’ll kick off in the Furious.”
The stable is pleased to have James McDonald back aboard Chayan, having guided the Tony Gollan-trained Pembrey to an impressive victory in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
“Chayan must have given him a good feel in the two (recent) trials and she’s trialled up really well, looks good, is fit but we don’t know her exact path yet.”
The Archibalds’ plan involves another win over 1200 metres for Chayan, followed by a successful campaign at 1400m, before they determine her path towards the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) on October 3. Check out the latest racing betting markets at online bookmakers.
