By Tom Frary
Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was two-for-two and the pick on form entering Saturday's G2 bet365 Champagne S. at Doncaster and he emerged with that tally extended after ousting TDN Rising Star Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) for the prize. Successful in a strong renewal of the Listed Pat Eddery S. over this seven-furlong trip at Ascot last time July 25, the Richard Hannon trainee was anchored in rear early by a confident Pat Dobbs with the pace ahead searching and honest. Always travelling best looming down the outside of the pack towards the stands, the 15-8 second favourite had to accelerate to challenge Shadwell's 7-4 market-leader at the furlong pole and outstay that rival to score by a length. Albasheer clung on to second from State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) by a short head as they pulled 7 1/2 lengths clear of the impressive Newmarket novice scorer Mujbar (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). “We always felt that this horse was tip-top and Pat [Dobbs] rides him at home and was in no doubt how good he thinks he is,” commented the trainer, who was capturing a third renewal since 2014. “He had to come over to find the race today, to where the other two were and he got there quite easily. I thought the first two travelled well and the first three were a long way clear of the fourth.”
Chindit had beaten Alablaq (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths on debut over this course and distance July 5 and there was a direct line to Albasheer as a result, with that runner-up also finishing 6 1/2 lengths adrift of Shadwell's exciting prospect on the day of the Pat Eddery. In that contest, Chindit took a leap forward when beating the subsequent Listed Stonehenge S. winner Cobh (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), the Convivial Maiden winner and G3 Prix la Rochette third Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Listed Washington Singer S. scorer Saint Lawrence (Ire) (Al Kazeem {GB}). Albasheer did not appear to have any excuse in defeat here and this confirmed the upward trajectory of the winner. “That's probably the best two-year-old race of the season so far. The second is a very good horse and the third obviously is,” Hannon added. “To find a very good horse like him with a good temperament is something you don't get every year. This is another step up and it's on to the [G1] Dewhurst, hopefully. That's the plan at the moment. That's the big race of the year and that is where we're heading, along with [the G3 Solario S. winner] Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}). His attitude and the way he behaves gives him every chance of being a horse for the 2000 Guineas–he does look a miler.”
Chindit is the first foal out of Always a Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a granddaughter of the listed-winning Out West (Gone West) whose claim to form was producing the G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Racing Post Trophy hero and successful sire Motivator (GB) and his G2 Hardwicke S.-winning full-brother Macarthur (GB) who was also third in the G1 Coronation Cup. Out West is kin to the GI Haskell Invitational H. and GI San Fernando S.-winning sire Wavering Monarch (Majestic Light). Always a Dream's yearling colt by Awtaad (Ire) is due to sell at next month's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2.
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
BET365 CHAMPAGNE S.-G2, £60,000, Doncaster, 9-12, 2yo, c/g, 7f 6yT, 1:24.21, gd.
1–CHINDIT (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Always A Dream (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Always Remembered (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Out West, by Gone West
1ST GROUP WIN. (65,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael Pescod; B-JC Bloodstock & R Mahon (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Pat Dobbs. £35,520. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $65,129. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Albasheer (Ire), 126, c, 2, Shamardal–Mutebah (Ire), by Marju (Ire). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £13,434.
3–State of Rest (Ire), 126, c, 2, Starspangledbanner%20(Aus)#tot">Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Repose, by Quiet American. (45,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Long Wait Two Partnership; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. £6,714.
Margins: 1, NO, 7HF. Odds: 1.88, 1.75, 6.50.
Also Ran: Mujbar (GB), Devious Company (Ire), Saint Lawrence (Ire), Broxi (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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