Unbeaten filly Chaillot will winter as one of the favourites for the MRC Thousand Guineas Gr.1 after accelerating to an impressive victory in the Anzac Day Stakes LR at Flemington.

Chaillot clicked into gear for Craig Williams to become the 65th stakes winner for Vinery retiree Testa Rossa.  “This is a proper filly and she’s just won black-type second-up,” trainer Archie Alexander declared after she ran over Dundeel youngsters Deserved and Super Seth.  “Second and third are two good horses and we beat them fair and square.

“Early on, she was backward and struggling but, all of a sudden, she grew wings and hasn’t stopped improving.

“She was very good winning on debut at Ballarat,” Alexander added.  “There was no fluke about it.  She came from last and won easily.  I was a little bit worried that she might lighten off but she was actually getting a bit chubby.”

Chaillot (2f Testa Rossa – Mary Of Modena by Encosta De Lago) was a bargain $25,000 buy from Baramul Stud at the 2018 Adelaide Magic Millions.  Alexander purchased her in conjunction with McKeever Bloodstock.

Breeder Gerry Harvey has more foals from the family by two of Vinery Stud’s up-and-coming stallions.  Mary Of Modena has a Press Statement yearling colt with trainer Mark Minervini and she followed up with a Press Statement filly last September before being covered by Star Turn.

“Chaillot has been relaxed, happy and looking really well but she was always going to the paddock after today,” Alexander said.  “The Guineas is definitely a target in the spring.”

Hoofnote:  Testa Rossa chimed in as a broodmare sire at Caulfield on Saturday when Prince Of Sussex won the $950,000 Showdown Stakes (1200m).  He’s by Irish-bred Group 1 sprinter-miler Toronado from Testa Rossa mare Il Diamante whose first foal Algadon Miss (Equiano) completed a hat-trick at Moonee Valley in February.