Trainer Annabel Archibald benefited from a timely morale boost via a call from a renowned jockey post Chayan’s disappointing Blue Diamond run. “Where is Chayan going next,” the jockey said. “She will go where you can ride her,” Archibald replied.
It was James McDonald calling, and on Saturday at Royal Randwick, he guided the filly to a commanding win in the Group 2 $300,000 Reisling Stakes (1200m), thrusting her firmly into Golden Slipper discussions.
Chayan ($3.10) quickened impressively to prevail by three lengthening lengths from favourite Agrarian Girl ($2.70) and Miss Chanel ($10) half a length away in third.
“She’s a really good filly and I’m grateful that Annabel and Rob (Archibald) put her in the race for me,” McDonald said. “They were tossing up whether to run her next week but I was adamant, I’m available for this race please run her here and she justified that. “She’s beautiful to deal with. She’s got a lovely, good mind to her, just a strongly built two-year-old that’s ready to rock and roll. “I’d love her to go to the Percy Sykes instead of the Golden Slipper but we’ll see how much pull I’ve got.”
With her maiden broken at the third attempt, Chayan gains access to the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 21 at Rosehill Gardens.
Archibald revealed Chayan’s innate talent was evident, marred only by misfortune initially. “She had no luck from the draw in the Blue Diamond, she was five-wide all the way,” Archibald said. “So, to come here today and win a Group 2 is very satisfying. “We thought there would be a bit of speed and James said he just wanted to blend in and find some cover. “I was happy when he got in and she was very strong late. It was a big win.”
Her prior Reisling Stakes winner Learning To Fly from 2023 fell in the Golden Slipper. “Learning To Fly ended up a disaster (fell in the Golden Slipper,” she said. “Hopefully we can do better with Chayan. She is a very tough filly.
A $250,000 purchase from last year’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Chayan is by I Am Invincible. “These ‘Vinnie’ fillies can get a bit ‘hot’ and she was a bit ‘hot’ in her first couple of preparations,” Archibald said. “If you said to me before Christmas that she would be going to the Golden Slipper I would have said ‘no way’. “But she has really mentally matured and seems to be getting better with every race. “The Golden Slipper is very wide open this year so a lot will come down to barriers.The main thing is to see Chayan pull up well as she has the prizemoney to get into the race now.”
Placings went to the Waterhouse-Bott duo of Agrarian Girl and Miss Chanel, the leader’s earnings now over $180,000 for Golden Slipper eligibility.
Bott commended Agrarian Girl’s gritty effort amid pre-race troubles like barrier slip and mounting yard nerves. “Under the circumstances, Agrarian Girl did very well to hold on for second,” Bott said. “Hopefully she has enough prizemoney to get int the Golden Slipper because she will improve off this run.”
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