Written by Paul Vettise
Kris Lees viewed Chianti (I Am Invincible) with envy at the Riverside Stables last year when the well-related filly was offered for sale by Coolmore.
The Newcastle trainer’s budget didn’t stretch to chasing the youngster, but as it’s turned out he didn’t need to and at Warwick Farm on Wednesday he produced her for an impressive debut victory in the Exceed And Excel @ Darley H.
Watch: Chianti win by 1.8l on debut
Chianti failed to meet her reserve at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and Lees couldn’t accept the subsequent offer to train the 2-year-old quickly enough.
“I saw her at the sales and liked her, but she was out of our price range. I’m now very grateful to get such a well-bred filly from Coolmore,” he said.
“She’s showed quite a bit all the way through and trialled well back in the early 2-year-old trials. She’s coming up well with a view to getting to some nice fillies’ races at the back end of the autumn.”
“She’s coming up well with a view to getting to some nice fillies’ races at the back end of the autumn.” – Kris Lees
Chianti won one of her two trials in the spring before Lees put her aside and she also won the second of her two trials at Wyong earlier this month to have her ready for her Warwick Farm debut.
She raced fiercely in third spot on the fence and rider Hugh Bowman took an opening between runners 300 metres from home. Chianti surged clear and won comfortably by 1.8l from Squanto (Sebring) and So Far Away (Snitzel).
Canadian Spice (Vancouver) was next in ahead of the weakening hot favourite Deniki (Not A Single Doubt), a sister to the G2 Run To The Rose S. winner Menari.
“You’re always a little guarded about provincial trials, but I’ve been really pleased with what I’ve seen from her at home,” Lees said.
“She’s a bombproof filly and got a lovely run in the race. She travelled a little aggressively, but Hugh had plenty of horse underneath him and she let down really well.”
Kris Lees (left)
Bowman said Chianti was a touch too relaxed before the race, but she quickly got her game face on.
“I trotted her around to try and liven her up a bit. She didn’t need much encouragement and knew what she was there for.
“She could have done with a bit more pace to be honest from the leading couple, but I was able to harness that energy.
“She could have done with a bit more pace to be honest from the leading couple, but I was able to harness that energy.” – Hugh Bowman
“Although she was a bit green when I was trying to balance her up and when I did get her balanced she put them away quite easily. I felt she had a bit more up her sleeve so she’s certainly an exciting filly.
“She’s a big filly and Kris always has his horses improving through the preparation and this one will be no different. She’s run well and it looked a strong maiden on paper and, if that’s the case, we might have a nice one on our hands.”
Chianti as a yearling
Chianti is certainly bred to be that as a daughter of the G3 Turffontein Sycamore Sprint winner and G1 Royal Ascot King’s Stand S. placegetter Sweet Sanette (SAF) (Jallad {SAF}). All three of her foals to race have now won and includes the G3 Scarborough S. runner-up Sweet Rockette (Fastnet Rock).
The dam, who was last served by Pierro, is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Franny (SAF) (Trippi {SAF}) and the family of the Group 2 winners Janoobi (SAF) (Silvano {Ger}), Philippa Johnson (SAF) (Joshua Dancer {USA}) and her daughter Chekilli (SAF) (Greys Inn {USA}).