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Sun Chariot Stakes 2010 |
Sahpresa Makes History in Sun Chariot Stakes
02/10/10
1 Sahpresa 9/2
2 Strawberrydaiquiri 5/1
3 Rainfall 6/1
Sahpresa today became only the second mare to complete back-to-back wins in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes and the first since the mile contest attained Group One status.
The Rodolphe Collet-trained French raider was a shock winner when defeating Ghanaati at odds of 16/1 last year, but there was little surprise about the way she swept aside her 10 rivals to register a length and three-quarters triumph as the 9/2 second-favourite.
Sahpresa, who was given time to recover from a disappointing defeat in the Group Two Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, made a winning return to action in the Group Three Prix du Pin at Longchamp last month, a victory that put her spot on for today’s assignment.
Collet said: “That was impressive. I was afraid about the ground because at three she was not going on the very soft ground. She has never been trained on the turf in the morning, only on the all-weather sand.
“She’s now a mature mare. She came in late and I wasn’t sure what happened when she came in after the race at Royal Ascot. I thought there was something wrong because after one furlong as she was not going well. We had a virus in the yard at the start of the year so it must have been something like that.”
The five-year-old Sahm mare followed last season’s Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes success with a fine third, beaten a length and a quarter, in the Group One Mile Championship at Kyoto, Japan. That prestigious contest is once again on the agenda.
Collet revealed: “We are going to engage again in the Mile Championship because she ran last year and was impressive in the race - she was beaten by a collar and a collarb, so why not. She could go for that or also maybe Hong Kong. Hopefully they will call me Monday morning to invite her to the Mile Championship.
“I am very pleased - very pleased.”
Sahpresa was always cruising under Christophe Soumillon in the mile contest and quickened impressively to match the achievement of the Luca Cumani-trained Free Guest, who won the prize in 1984 and 1985 when the race was a Group Two 10-furlong contest.
Soumillon said: “She was always travelling very easily. She has a good turn of foot so sometimes you have to wait to go. What she did today was something special, winning two years in a row. In France, we know how hard it is to come to England and win Group One races.
“She is a great filly and I always knew that she was probably good enough to do a double like this. But we were a bit worried about her at the beginning of the season because the trainer had some problems, so you never know.
“She didn’t run a good race at Ascot but last time she won really well in France. Today we had a bit of a problem with the ground but she was travelling well in the race.
“I tried to come as late as possible but she came there a bit early and I needed to ride her hard to make her concentrate because she was trying to stop a little in front.
“Now she will probably go to Japan again. She is probably more mature this year and she can travel a long way. She ran well there last year but the ground was a bit too sticky for her - I think that she can do something more this year.”
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Sahpresa Rod Collet |
C Soumillon 9st 2lbs |
9 - 2 Winner |
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2 |
Strawberrydaiquiri Sir Michael Stoute |
R L Moore 9st 2lbs |
5 - 1 1 3/4 length |
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3 |
Rainfall M Johnston |
L Dettori 8st 13lbs |
6 - 1 1 length |
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4 |
Music Show M R Channon |
R Hughes 8st 13lbs |
4 - 1 Neck |
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5 |
Aviate H R A Cecil |
T P Queally 8st 13lbs |
12 - 1 3/4 length |
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6 |
Spacious J R Fanshawe |
J P Murtagh 9st 2lbs |
11 - 2 1 1/4 length |
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7 |
Lahaleeb P W D'Arcy |
J F Egan 9st 2lbs |
50 - 1 3 1/2 lengths |
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8 |
Seta L M Cumani |
K Fallon 8st 13lbs |
7 - 1 1 3/4 length |
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9 |
Hen Night D Wachman |
W M Lordan 8st 13lbs |
40 - 1 2 1/4 lengths |
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10 |
Alsace Lorraine J R Fanshawe |
William Buick 9st 2lbs |
40 - 1 3 lengths |
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11 |
Sent From Heaven B W Hills |
M Hills 8st 13lbs |
25 - 1 11 lengths |
STRAWBERRYDAIQUIRI PICKS UP GROUP 1 FORM FOR NEW OWNER
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Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: “She never runs a bad race. She is a tough and honest filly and is always trying. We will see about another run this year, but she has had a hard race today and you never quite know with fillies at this time of year. She will definitely stay in training next year.”
The filly’s purchase by Nass was brokered by his stud manager Oliver St Lawrence.
“Oliver has not smiled for four days!” joked Stoute regarding St Lawrence, who was relieved that Strawberrydaiquiri’s purchase has already reaped rewards for her new owner.
Mark Johnston, trainer of the third-placed Rainfall, was delighted with the staying-on run from the Oasis Dream filly.
“That was very good,” he said. “I knew she would have to raise her game today and things would have to go her way, but she did it nicely.
“All ground comes alike to her and she coped well with the soft surface here. She is entered in a 6f race in Canada in the next two weeks, but it is very unlikely that she will go there.
“A mile was always her maximum for this year, but we will discuss her trip in future as she got the mile well today.”
Johnson was unsure as to whether Rainfall will remain with him for next season or will instead be transferred into training with Godolphin.
