Chigun

Although narrowly beaten in the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket on Sunday, Chigun took another step forward on this, her first run as a four-year-old, and she continues to progress.

Henry Cecil’s filly just didn’t drop the bridle for Tom Queally early on, in contrast to the eventual winner Dank who settled really nicely alongside her, and that was probably crucial in the end. Chigun came under pressure early, over three furlongs from home, but she found plenty and she picked up impressively well over a furlong out when switched to the near side of Thistle Bird. She had probably got to the front early enough though, she was caught and passed by Dank half a furlong out, but she was coming back at the winner at the line and only went down by a short head, the pair of them drawing three lengths clear of the highly talented Thistle Bird close home.

Chigun was progressive through last season, this was just her eighth ever race and her seasonal debut, she should come on for it, as Cecil’s horses often do, and she can progress further from this. She got the nine furlongs really well, but Tom Queally probably got to the front earlier than ideal, he just eased off on her a little inside the final furlong before asking her to go forward again.

The daughter of Oasis Dream was probably a little unlucky here. She didn’t have the run of the race, she was in front on the near side earlier than ideal, and she raced nearest the stands rail, which was probably the slowest part of the track, while the winner was several horses off the stands rail, which was probably the quickest strip of ground all weekend.

Chigun is a talented filly, she has a good turn of foot, and either this nine furlong-trip or a stiff mile on quick ground is probably her optimum. She is not entered for the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot, she would have been a contender there, but she will be of interest wherever she runs next. She does hold an entry in the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Stakes at The Curragh on Guineas weekend.

5th May 2013