By Tom Frary
Earning compensation for respectable efforts in the top league, Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) battled to a typically game success in Saturday's G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot. Third in the May 14 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury and fourth in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 14, the 85-40 second favourite was in shallower waters here and took to the lead early to establish his presence. Looking likely to surrender as the 7-4 favourite Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) edged ahead over a furlong from home, the Richard Hannon trainee rallied for Pat Dobbs to wrest back the advantage late on and score by a head. “He is relaxing a bit better and he is finishing his races off,” the winning rider said. “He used to be a little bit headstrong. He kept plenty in the tank and I always thought he would get ten, so we'll see.”
Summer Mile (G2)
1600 m, 140.000 GBP, for 4yo+
Ascot
Chindit
(4C Wootton Bassett – Always A Dream, by Oasis Dream)
J :Pat Dobbs
T :Richard Hannon
O :Michael Pescod
Mutasaabeq
My Oberonpic.twitter.com/FPEetxbbQ2— (@WorldRacing1) July 9, 2022
First coming to prominence at this venue when taking the Listed Pat Eddery S. as a juvenile, Chindit went on to win the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster later that term and although he added the G3 Greenham S. to his tally the following Spring he was unable to make a serious impact in four attempts at the highest level. Back with purpose in 2022 with a fluent score in the Listed Doncaster Mile Mar. 26, the bay had continued to provide honest service to connections by sticking as respectably close to Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as possible at Newbury and Royal Ascot.
Pescod is keen to take on the Shadwell rocket once again. “I have a nose-bleed now,” he quipped. “I am in territory I don't understand. I have never had a group one winner and if you tell me where Baaeed is going to go, I will tell you if this is the horse who could be the first. We are entered at Goodwood and we have to do it really. We are not going to duck him. He is certainly one of the best horses I have owned.”
Chindit is the first foal out of Always A Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a granddaughter of the famed Out West (Gone West) who produced the G1 Derby hero and successful sire Motivator (GB) and his G2 Hardwicke S.-winning full-brother Macarthur (GB). From the family of the GI Haskell Invitational H. and GI San Fernando S. hero and leading sire Wavering Monarch, her yearling filly is by Bated Breath (GB).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
FRED COWLEY MBE MEMORIAL SUMMER MILE-G2, £140,000, Ascot, 7-9, 4yo/up, 7f 213yT, 1:41.89, g/f.
1–CHINDIT (IRE), 129, c, 4, 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
(65,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael Pescod; B-J C Bloodstock & R Mahon (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Pat Dobbs. £79,394. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 14-6-0-2, $407,618. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mutasaabeq (GB), 129, c, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (GB); T-Charles Hills. £30,100.
3–My Oberon (Ire), 129, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–My Titania (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William Haggas. £15,064.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 3HF. Odds: 2.13, 1.75, 3.50.
Also Ran: Tactical (GB), Best Lightning (Fr), Perotto (GB). Scratched: Modern News (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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