Sunday's G3 Watership Down Too Darn Hot Greenham S. hero Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has emerged from his Newbury effort in good form and will contest the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, trainer Richard Hannon has revealed. A winner of the Listed Pat Eddery S. on July 25 and G2 Champagne S. in September, the bay was ninth in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket in his 2-year-old finale.
“Chindit came out of the race brilliantly, he was in the pen most of the next day and has cantered this morning and he's fine,” said Hannon on Tuesday.
“His form is solid and it looks like he's going to be suited by the test of the Guineas. To me it looked as if he was crying out for a mile.”
His twice-raced stablemate Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) graduated impressively on the Newbury card and earned 'TDN Rising Star' status, but she will not contest the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas.
Hannon said on his website, “Following a discussion with connections, Snow Lantern will not be taking up her engagement in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and will instead be aimed for either the G3 Musidora S. or the Listed Michael Seeley S. at York's May meeting.
“With the Michael Seeley being run over a mile and the Musidora over a mile and a quarter, both of these races will give us options and gives her an extra couple of weeks.
“Either race will give us a good guide on where we stand for the rest of the season with her too. She holds entries in the Epsom Oaks and Prix de Diane, and these engagements will be dependant on her York performance.
“There are plenty of options coming up for her. She is a special filly, with a beautiful pedigree and has already proved an exciting prospect for her owner-breeders, Rockcliffe Stud.”
Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), successful in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S., will be kept at sprint distances after running 10th in the G3 Fred Darling S.
“She just didn't stay, so we'll go sprinting,” said Hannon. “I must admit I thought she was sure to stay, but she clearly didn't.
“I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong, it happens often enough. There are still plenty of races she can go for and she's already won a Super Sprint, a Group 3 and a sales race at York already and the owners have had a ball. There are many good days left in her yet.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
