Impressive Leopardstown Win For Newtown Anner’s Wootton Bassett Filly

Building on her debut second over seven furlongs at Leopardstown last month, Newtown Anner Stud Farm’s Chantez (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Lady Lara {Ire}, by Excellent Art {GB}) returned to the same course and distance to stamp her authority on the card’s opening maiden on Thursday. Another from Ger Lyons’ talent-packed team of juvenile fillies, the 220,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase was restrained to track the leading duo by Colin Keane throughout the early stages. Let loose passing the two-furlong pole, the 5-6 favourite whose GII Honey Fox Stakes-winning dam produced Ballydoyle’s G2 King Edward VII Stakes scorer Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) surged to a three-length success from Indigo Dream (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), with a neck back to Proxima Centauri (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) the daughter of Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in third.

“I loved her first run here, as they quickened twice and I said that was a bit above the ordinary as a maiden,” Lyons said. “We have a view to the [Listed] Ingabelle Stakes, which is a race that has been very lucky for us. She shouldn’t be running at two, as she’s so light and immature–she’s just so not there yet. All of a sudden, every filly I have is a nice filly and we’re just lucky. She’s good and any other year she’d be your best one. Now she’s had two runs and I have an Ingabelle horse, so happy days.”

Exciting filly – Chantez (Wootton Bassett) is a half-sister to Royal Ascot winner Changingoftheguard and scores with little fuss second-time out for Ger Lyons, @ctkjockey and Newtown Anner Stud @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/tpC3WJdV0f

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 22, 2024

The GII Honey Fox Stakes and GIII My Charmer Handicap-winning dam has already produced Ballydoyle’s G2 King Edward VII Stakes and G3 Chester Vase scorer Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). From the family of Footstepsinthesand (GB) et al, her yearling colt by Camelot (GB) is catalogued in the upcoming Goffs Orby Book 1 while she also has a 2024 colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr).

1st-Leopardstown, €18,000, Mdn, 8-22, 2yo, 7f 30yT, 1:29.75, gd.
CHANTEZ (IRE) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}–Lady Lara {Ire} {MGSW-US, SW & MGSP-Eng, $781,203}, by Excellent Art {GB}) Sales history: 220,000gns Ylg ’23 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $15,587.
O-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Ger Lyons.