Chigun blows them away

Chigun outgunned her seven rivals in the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Stakes to give the English raiding party another nice pot to take home.

The Sir Henry Cecil-trained four-year-old had Tom Queally in the saddle in this race over a mile. The pair fended off La Collina with a furlong to go and scooted home by and two and three quarter lengths.

She was returned the 11/8 favourite backed in from 7/4 on course. Caponata, the forecast favourite in the papers, was taken out earlier today as she was found to be in season.

Tom Queally said: “That opens up some doors for Royal Ascot. She travelled well. I thought the ground was lively enough for her.

“I had a moments worry at halfway and I helped her through it. I’m glad she won in the fashion she did as I was reluctant to throw the kitchen sink at her on the quicker ground in case she got unbalanced.

“We had a last-minute worry about the ground, but it’s hard to pull out a favourite. She had the class to deal with it.

“She’s progressive and going the right way and has the scope to keep improving.”

This was a rare Irish raid for Sir Henry Cecil. On his last one in September Chachamaidee was awarded the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, after initially finishing second to Duntle.

Chigun won 39,000 euro today.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson