Chindit strikes first time out again to land Paradise Stakes

Neil Morrice
May 3, 2023 4:38 pm

Lockinge bid now likely for consistent winner.

Chindit won first time out for the fourth successive year when making nearly all the running in the Howden Bloodstock Paradise Stakes at Ascot.

Sent off the 5-2 joint-favourite with his Richard Hannon-trained stablemate Lusail, his task was made significantly easier by the morning withdrawal of William Haggas’ Champion Stakes third My Prospero with a dirty scope.

Chindit could only beat those put in front of him, however, and he once again proved how well he goes fresh with a dominant display under Pat Dobbs.

Dobbs was keen to dictate matters and one by one his opponents came off the bridle and once Raadobarg came under pressure Chindit began to pull clear.

The field began to close inside the final 100 yards and it was David Simcock’s lightly-raced Cash who got to within three-quarters of a length at the line but the result was never in doubt.

Held on! Chindit lands the Listed Howden Bloodstock Paradise Stakes for Pat Dobbs and @rhannonracing at @Ascot… pic.twitter.com/P7dXfRTnvT

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 3, 2023

Hannon said: “That’s the fourth year in a row he’s won and he’s much more relaxed.

“He would have preferred to get a lead but he had his own way in front.

“I think he will go for the Lockinge next, then the Queen Anne and maybe Australia at the end of the year.

“He’s an extremely reliable and very sound horse, and will make an extremely good stallion.

“There are a good few races down there (in Australia) as well as races like the Shadwell Mile round two bends in the US.”

Maximum Impact lived up to the huge promise of his debut win and provided Alice Haynes with a first Ascot winner in the process when running out a convincing winner of the Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes.

A 12-length winner on heavy ground at Leicester, he proved he can handle a much quicker surface on this occasion as the Havana Grey colt bounded clear on good ground.

It was the two previous winners who dominated throughout, with Hollie Doyle on Archie Watson’s Action Point smartly away and bagging the rail.

Maximum Impact takes in his surroundings (PA)

With a furlong to run, Action Point appeared to be going marginally the better but when Kevin Stott got into the drive position on Maximum Impact he soon began to assert, with the evens favourite coming home two and a quarter lengths to the good. The Line made a pleasing debut in third.

The winner was cut to 16-1 from 25s for the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes by Coral, but Haynes may be tempted to step him up to six furlongs for the Coventry Stakes.

Haynes said: “It’s the first battle he’s had, but he hit the line strongly. He has a very relaxed attitude and came back in with his ears pricked.

“The owners have lots of two-year-olds but this one will enjoy the step up to six furlongs. He has a great brain and we had to come here to test him.

“There’s a race at Sandown (National Stakes) but I think we will probably wait and come back here.”

Chasing Aphrodite streaks clear under Pierre-Louis Jamin (David Davies/PA)

Roger Varian’s Yaanaas was all the rage ahead of the Howden Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap following two wins on the all-weather.

He cruised to the front a furlong out under Aidan Keeley but the challengers were mounting on his inside, the strongest of which was Chasing Aphrodite (8-1).

Having his first run since wind surgery, Harry Eustace’s four-year-old came with a perfectly-timed challenge under Pierre-Louis Jamin to win by a length and a half from the favourite.

Jamin said: “The sun and wind are having an impact on the ground, but my main concern was to get him some cover which would help him get his head down and settle.

“He’s definitely benefitted from a wind operation since his last run.”

Queen For You was an eyecatching winner on debut (David Davies/PA)

John and Thady Gosden’s Queen For You (4-1) made a very impressive winning debut against rivals with experience in the Naas Racecourse Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Beautifully bred as a daughter of Kingman out of Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You, she was a comfortable two-length winner under Rab Havlin.

Thady Gosden said: “She’d been going nicely at home and her mother won the Coronation Stakes while Kingman was a champion miler.

“So yes, we would take a look at the Coronation Stakes. It’s five weeks away but another run would benefit her.”