Reisling Stakes triumph boosts Chayan's Golden Slipper prospects

Annabel Archibald, the trainer, fielded an encouraging call from a prominent jockey shortly following Chayan's unlucky unplaced finish in the Blue Diamond. "Where is Chayan going next,'' the jockey said. "She will go where you can ride her,'' Archibald replied.

Champion rider James McDonald was the one on the line, and come Saturday at Royal Randwick, he was aboard as Chayan stormed into Golden Slipper calculations courtesy of a stylish success in the Group 2 $300,000 Reisling Stakes (1200m).

Sent out at $3.10, Chayan drew right away to triumph by a lengthening three lengths margin from favourite Agrarian Girl ($2.70), while Miss Chanel ($10) was a half length behind in third spot.

"She's a really good filly and I'm grateful that Annabel and Rob (Archibald) put her in the race for me,'' McDonald said. "They were tossing up whether to run her next week but I was adamant, I'm available for this race please run her here and she justified that. "She's beautiful to deal with. She's got a lovely, good mind to her, just a strongly built two-year-old that's ready to rock and roll. "I'd love her to go to the Percy Sykes instead of the Golden Slipper but we'll see how much pull I've got.''

Breaking her maiden at start three, Chayan has earned a berth in the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) scheduled for Rosehill Gardens on March 21.

According to Archibald, Chayan had exhibited strong natural promise yet suffered bad luck early on. "She had no luck from the draw in the Blue Diamond, she was five-wide all the way,'' Archibald said. "So, to come here today and win a Group 2 is very satisfying. "We thought there would be a bit of speed and James said he just wanted to blend in and find some cover. "I was happy when he got in and she was very strong late. It was a big win.''

In 2023, Archibald's Learning To Fly captured the Reisling Stakes but unfortunately fell in the Golden Slipper claimed by Shinzo. "Learning To Fly ended up a disaster (fell in the Golden Slipper,'' she said. "Hopefully we can do better with Chayan. She is a very tough filly.

Bred from elite sire I Am Invincible, this $250,000 Magic Millions Yearling Sale purchase from last year is a filly. "These 'Vinnie' fillies can get a bit 'hot' and she was a bit 'hot' in her first couple of preparations,'' Archibald said. "If you said to me before Christmas that she would be going to the Golden Slipper I would have said 'no way'. "But she has really mentally matured and seems to be getting better with every race. "The Golden Slipper is very wide open this year so a lot will come down to barriers.The main thing is to see Chayan pull up well as she has the prizemoney to get into the race now.''

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's Agrarian Girl along with Miss Chanel occupied the placings, the former surpassing $180,000 in earnings to position for Golden Slipper qualification.

Bott highlighted the merit in Agrarian Girl's run after she slipped at the start necessitating a vet exam, and required calming measures pre-race. "Under the circumstances, Agrarian Girl did very well to hold on for second,'' Bott said. "Hopefully she has enough prizemoney to get int the Golden Slipper because she will improve off this run.''

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