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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Chigun blows them away

Sat 25th May 2013, 16:18

Chigun and Tom Queally come home clear at the CurraghChigun and Tom Queally come home clear at the Curragh
© Photo Healy Racing

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

1st
11/8Fav
Tote €2.20 €1.02
2nd
2.75L
6/1
€2.00
3rd
3L
7/2
€2.00
4th
nk
11/2
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.