Group 1 glory at Ascot
18 October 2014
MADAME Chiang gave trainer David Simcock his third top-class victory of the year when striking in the Group One QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.
Just a month after Sheikhzayedroad and Trade Storm scored in Grade 1 company in Canada, the Kirsten Rausing-owned filly came from out the back with a stirring run to score at Ascot.
It looked as if Chicquita had hit the front in a decisive move in the mile and a half contest. But she began to drift left and, suddenly, cutting through the field was Madame Chiang and jockey Jim Crowley.
The 12/1 shot hit the front late on and was running on in strong style to score by two lengths from the fast-finishing Silk Sari.
Simcock said: "When the ground became very soft we knew she would handle it, and following a very good run in last month's Group One Prix Vermeille - when she ran extremely well against a very strong field - we came here hopeful. You can never be confident, but we were hopeful.
“We knew that she handled heavy ground and she ran very well last time out in France, when I don't think that she quite got the credit she deserved – she only finished a length and a half behind Treve.
"It was always the plan to keep her in training next year because she's a frame of a horse. She's a big girl and not the finished article by any means, so we're looking forward to next year when she will take on the boys. It will be exciting. She can only get better and there's a nice programme for her next year.”