3 minute read
The admirable Chindit showed guts and determination to prevail narrowly in the Listed Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes at Sandown on Wednesday afternoon.
Just eleven days on from his commanding success in the Group 3 The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock, the likeable and tough son of Wootton Bassett defied a 5lb penalty despite unwanted testing conditions at the Esher venue.
With Raadobarg taking the field along at a sensible tempo, the Richard Hannon-trained Chindit slotted in behind and seemed to be travelling kindly with two furlongs to run. Pat Dobbs soon kicked his mount to the front but all the while the eye was drawn to market leader Knight, who loomed a serious threat with a furlong to run.
The pair set down to fight it out up the Sandown hill, but it was the easy-to-back 7/2 chance Chindit who would respond best to Pat Dobbs' urgings and eventually prevail by a head.
Hannon said: "I'm delighted with that. It is nice for Pat [Dobbs] as he has ridden him in every race apart from two. He doesn't love that ground and he had a penalty today.
"He is one of the biggest allies our yard has had for years. He has run in all these good races and turns up on every occasion. He never runs a bad race. He is a pleasure to have. Michael Pescod, his old owner, is always the first man to ring me as he is delighted. He has been such a star for us over the years.
"Dr Poonawalla [owner] has purchased him to service his own mares. A Group 1 is not massively on the agenda, and he wants to enjoy the horse for what he is.
"He [Dr Poonawalla] has come over from India for today and he said Richard the horse will run come what may and I like a man like that who says what he wants. He has enjoyed the horse and he has got a huge amount of pleasure from him.
Although a career at stud beckons in India, connections have not ruled out another run this season, with the Group 2 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on October 13 a possible target.
Hannon added: "He is in the Joel Stakes, and I've put him in the Challenge Stakes. I'd like to take him to America or Australia and run him on fast ground but there is also the Hong Kong option as well. There are all kinds of options for him.
"The drop back to seven furlongs for the Challenge Stakes would be no problem."
Delighted owner, Cyrus Poonawalla, continued: "It was a win that we were a little worried about getting because of the ground but all the way up you could see clearly that he was handling the ground well. He is a lion-hearted horse, and he took the challenge the way he should and held on to win.
"He is by an up-and-coming champion sire and that is what you need if you want a horse to retire to stud. I'm taking him in a month's time to India and I've got one hundred mares to give him.
"If the ground holds on, we may run him once more. I'm very keen and the trainer is very keen to run him once more and if he wins, we may change our plans, but not for taking him to India as he is all set to go home."