By Sean Cronin
Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) annexed Doncaster's Mar. 27 Brocklesby on debut before making light of a three-pound penalty in an Apr. 28 conditions test over Ascot's five-furlong strip, but was compromised by soft conditions when relinquishing his perfect record in Sandown's May 27 Listed National S. last time. The Tattersalls Ascot yearling, purchased by Johnson Houghton for a bargain 10,000gns, went postward at odds of 22-1 for Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S., but was off script at the break and left trailing on the far side after missing his cue from the supposedly doomed one box. Sneaking forward from halfway, he quickened smartly for the overall lead with 100 yards remaining and was driven out to dip under the magic minute and secure a career high by 2 1/4 lengths from Dig Two (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}).
“He's a horse that trains himself, he travels and when you ask him off he goes,” explained Johnson Houghton. “He's an absolute dude of a horse and didn't enjoy the soft ground at Sandown last time. All through the day I felt we couldn't win from stall one, but then after the [Royal] Hunt Cup [won by Real World from stall four] I thought we did have a chance. Charlie [Bishop] had the courage to stay on the far side and, off a rattling fast pace, he really picked up.”
Bishop and Johnson Houghton joined forces to snag this meet's 2018 G1 Queen Anne S. with Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) and the rider added, “I was quite keen to get a level break, but he bunny hopped when the stalls opened. I had to be patient, but I got a dream run through. We've always liked him and we never pressed any buttons when he won the Brocklesby and that [conditions] race here. He didn't like the soft at Sandown and, to be honest, I didn't give him the best of rides. Eve's a brilliant trainer and I feel quite emotional that she's kept the faith with me.”
Chipotle is one of two scorers from as many foals produced by a daughter of Aunty Mary (GB) (Common Grounds {GB}), herself a winning half-sister to MG1SW European champion Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}). Attraction is the dam of MGSW G2 York S. victor Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G3 Sapphire S.-winning sire Fountain of Youth (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and dual US Grade III runner-up Cushion (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Chipotle's dam Lightsome (GB) (Makfi {GB}) is a half-sister to G3 Firth of Clyde S. second Mary's Daughter (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and a full-sister to the dam of last term's G3 Naas Fillies' Sprint runner-up Sussex Garden (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The April-foaled bay shares his second dam Flirtation (GB) (Pursuit of Love {GB}) with stakes-winning G2 T von Zastrow Stutenpreis placegetter Titi Makfi (GB) (Makfi {GB}). From the family of G1 Prix de la Salamandre-winning sire Lord of Men (GB) (Groom Dancer), Flirtation is a half-sister to stakes-winning G2 Prix de Royallieu third Carmita (GB) (Caerleon) and to the dam of G3 Polar Cup scorer You Never Know (Swe) (Diaglyphard).
Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
WINDSOR CASTLE S.-Listed, £65,000, Ascot, 6-16, 2yo, 5fT, :59.78, g/f.
1–CHIPOTLE (GB), 129, c, 2, by Havana Gold (Ire)
1st Dam: Lightsome (GB), by Makfi (GB)
2nd Dam: Aunty Mary (GB), by Common Grounds (GB)
3rd Dam: Flirtation (GB), by Pursuit of Love (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (4,500gns RNA Wlg '19 TATFOA; 10,000gns Ylg '20 TATASY). O-The Woodway 20; B-Theakston Stud (GB); T-Eve Johnson Houghton; J-Charles Bishop. £38,480. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $72,500.
2–Dig Two (Ire), 129, c, 2, Cotai Glory (GB)–Vulnicura (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire). (€13,000 Wlg '19 TATFBR; £28,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY). O-Lit Lung Lee; B-Ballybrennan Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £14,554.
3–Boonie (Ire), 129, c, 2, Brazen Beau (Aus)–Dice Game (GB), by Shamardal. O-Seymour Bloodstock & Mark Balnaves; B-Seymour Bloodstock (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. £7,274.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, NK. Odds: 22.00, 7.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: Bond Chairman (GB), Armor (GB), Kaboo, Ruthin (GB), Guilded (Ire), Albion Square (GB), Home City (Ire), Admiral D (Ire), Barging Thru (GB), Ernie's Valentine (GB), Amalfi Coast (Ire), Superior Force (GB), Golden Bell, Amazonian Dream (Ire), Robasta (Ire), Poderoso (Ire), Flaming Rib (Ire), Royal Emerther (Ire), Freyabella (GB), Spring Is Sprung (Fr), Silks Pass (GB), Dusky Prince (Ire), Lord Gorgeous (Ire), Bicep (Ire). Scratched: Tipperary Sunset (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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