Racing: Chant hits flat note with punters at Trentham

Lisa Allpress and the betting public learnt a very painful lesson at Trentham yesterday about outstanding 2-year-old filly Chant.

The Traditionally-sired filly had been unbeaten in her past two starts and was backed into heavy favouritism before the running of the $100,000 (Group Two) Ford Wakefield Challenge Stakes.

Allpress decided to take full advantage of the barrier one draw and punched Chant straight to the lead but was given no peace, being attacked throughout by Jokers Wild.

Chant weakened in the home stretch to finish seventh, 6 1/2 lengths behind 32-1 shot Italia.

Allpress said the filly may not have been suited by racing in front.

"She was gone at the crossing [about 550m from the finish]. I think she's definitely better when she gets back and runs on."

Italia paid no respect to pre-race reputations by unleashing a well-timed sprint in the home stretch to win by 3/4 of a length over Udiditagain, with a further 1/2 length back to Habana (third).

The Stravinsky-sired filly was friendless in pre-race betting, despite having won on debut and finishing second in her two career starts heading into the Group Two event.

Italia is trained at Riccarton by Shane Kennedy and Ricky Carston, who entered her at Trentham just to see how well she would measure up against the highly regarded North Island-trained juveniles.

That effortless victory will now persuade her trainers to venture further north to Te Rapa for the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique on February 4.

Italia was purchased for $60,000 as a yearling and is raced by Kotuku Investments Ltd, a business headed by Christchurch-based Brian Vieceli.

Victory in the event continued a powerful season for Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Stravinsky.

Italia is the 25th individual stakes winner for Stravinsky who will be strongly represented at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales at Karaka starting on January 30.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY