Starting her career in January, Miss Chanel surprised trainer Adrian Bott by continuing to thrive right through to the Sydney autumn carnival’s end.
Though Bott planned spells after every race, the filly’s strong showings, including a peak Group 1 position in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) last out, have demanded her preparation continue.
Saturday brings the Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, her bid to become just the seventh filly in 20 years to top the colts and geldings, succeeding She’s Extreme from 2022.
“This is her seventh run, which is a little bit unorthodox,” Bott said.
“I can’t say it’s by design.
“She has been remarkably consistent, but each time I’ve thought it’s possibly our last run for the preparation, she seems to have put in another improved run again and done well off the back of it.
“I am mindful that at some point, she is going to have that run that says she has come to the end of her campaign, and it’s not going to be a surprise when she does.
“But off the back of what we’ve seen, she hasn’t given us any indication in her work. Her weight is great, appetite good, she’s bright in herself and a mile should really suit.”
Several Champagne Stakes entrants match Miss Chanel’s heavy schedule.
Zambales for Godolphin is on seven runs too, as Fireball, Diameter and Persian Wonder reach six.
Miss Chanel rallied from the rear in the Sires’ Produce, yet Bott foresees a more prominent role Saturday from the outside draw.
“From the draw, we’re probably going to have to be a bit more positive,” he said.
“Naturally, we think we can be stepping up to a mile, and she has sat on pace in some faster races over 1100 and 1200 earlier in the prep, so she does have tactical speed.”
Bott and Gai Waterhouse, his co-trainer, have the Champagne Stakes on their resume via her five wins, Pierro’s in 2012 the freshest, but not as a team.
Lately, their two-year-olds focused on sprints or the Golden Slipper, with Miss Chanel the $5.50 hope to break through.
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