When Miss Chanel launched her racing career back in January, Adrian Bott had no anticipation that she would still be active on the concluding day of the Sydney autumn carnival.
Ready to retire her to the paddock following each outing, Bott indicates the filly has left her team with no option except to persist with her campaign, consistently performing well and securing her career-best placing at Group 1 level in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) most recently.
This Saturday, she lines up in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, aiming to join the seven fillies over the last 20 years who have outperformed the colts and geldings, becoming the first since She’s Extreme back in 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.”
Miss Chanel is not the sole hardworking contender in the Champagne Stakes lineup.
Godolphin colt Zambales is also on his seventh appearance, whereas Fireball, Diameter and Persian Wonder are all set for their sixth starts.
Although Miss Chanel trailed at the back during the Sires’ Produce before surging late, Bott anticipates a return to her typical style on Saturday, positioning much closer to the pace from a broad barrier.
“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’s colleague Gai Waterhouse has triumphed in the Champagne Stakes on five occasions, the latest with Pierro in 2012, yet the duo has not captured the race together.
The majority of their young horses lately have been either dedicated sprinters or aimed at Golden Slipper paths, with Miss Chanel at $5.50 odds to end their run this weekend.
Runners in the Champagne Stakes can be backed at leading Australian betting sites.
