CHINDIT LOOKS READY TO STEP UP

Ian Heitman with some eye-catching juveniles

- Ian Heitman

The wait for spectators to return to UK and Irish races goes on but despite no spectators, as least we do have horse racing to watch and there has been some high-class racing in the last few weeks.

UK Group/Listed Races

Chindit maintained his unbeaten record in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot on July 25, finishing well from the rear to beat Cobh by a length and three quarters with favorite Naval Crown in third. Chindit looks ready for a step into Group 2 company with the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting the ideal race, a race his trainer Richard Hannon has won twice since he started training in 2014.

The following day saw the first Group winner for both trainer David Loughnane and jockey Thomas Greatrex courtesy of Santosha who won the Group 3, Princess Margaret Stakes, by three-quarters of a length from Hala Hala Hala with another Loughnane trained filly, Caroline Dale running well in third having pulled hard making the running.

Santosha was the second winner to come from Dandalla’s Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, second-placed Fev Rover benefitted from a drop to Listed company in the Star Stakes at Sandown on July 21. Star Of Emaraaty who finished fourth in the Star Stakes was unfancied in the betting for her next start, the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on August 8, going off at 66/1. She finished very strongly inside the final furlong to run down long-time leader Dubai Fountain with 75 yards to go to win by a length and a quarter with another outsider 80/1 shot, Seattle Rock, in third.