Chesham Stakes report: September delivers for Aidan O'Brien

1430 Royal Ascot - Chesham Stakes result

1st September 11/8 favourite
2nd Nyaleti 10/1
3rd Masar 3/1

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Report

September ran down gallant front-runner Nyaleti to justify 11/8 favouritism in the Listed Chesham Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien's filly left a big impression when making a successful debut at Leopardstown earlier in the month and was the 11/8 market leader for the opening contest on the final day of the Royal meeting. 

Mark Johnston's Nyaleti, bidding to follow up a debut win at Salisbury just six days ago, set a strong gallop from the off and had the majority of the field in trouble soon after halfway in the seven furlong event.

Masar moved into second but couldn't latch on to the leader, while September was just getting rolling for Ryan Moore and steadily wore down the pace-setter before drawing two and a quarter lengths clear for an ultimately convincing success.

Nyaleti battle bravely all the way to the line and held on to second from Masar by a short head.

Sky Bet make September 5/1 (from 14s) for the 1000 Guineas next year and also cut the well-bred daughter of Deep Impact from 25/1 to 6/1 for the Oaks and PR Racing Manager Michael Shinners said: "September may need further than a mile next season but she was pretty impressive against the colts and has gone straight to the top of the market for the fillies' Classics at Newmarket and Epsom next year."

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Ryan Moore: "She travelled like the winner the whole way, the Johnston horse went a good gallop and kept going, but I was always confident I would win. Her mother (Peeping Fawn) got better with racing and she's definitely got some of her talent.

"You couldn't ask for a better pedigree and as she goes further she'll get better."

Aidan O'Brien, who struck 12 months ago in the Chesham with subsequent dual 2000 Guineas winner Churchill, said: "You'd be delighted with her. She's out of Peeping Fawn by Deep Impact, so she's bred absolutely in the purple.

"She has a massive engine. She's a great traveller and quickens really well. She was very impressive in Leopardstown and what's unusual about her is she's not a very big filly, but she thinks she's big - she has a big personality.

"Like those real good ones, she has a big presence about her. She could be anything really. I think she was the first two-year-old that we had that won first time out this year. It's very exciting."

Outlining plans for the rest of the season, O'Brien said: "She could go to the Debutante and then the Moyglare. If she finished the season at a mile we can then see for next year.

"She's bred to stay very well. We were thinking of running her in the Albany, but Ryan said go for this race.

"She coped very well with the seven furlongs and travelled well enough. You'd be delighted she has enough speed for seven at the moment. I imagine she'd stay much further."

Mark Johnston was proud of the performance of Nyaleti, who was turning out just six days after making a winning debut at Salisbury.

He said: "We ran her last Sunday and knew she was fairly good. I was staggered that she drifted so much at Salisbury (went off 16-1) as we didn't go all the way down to Salisbury expecting to come home with nothing.

"We wanted to win there to get the Tattersalls bonus as she was one of the cheapest buys out of book one.

"The Albany was the race to go for but that had closed so we were left with the Chesham. We had to go a furlong too far and I suspected that would be the case - she has done not bad over a furlong too far.

"She will probably go for the Cherry Hinton next, it's the obvious race for her. She has clearly got lots of natural speed and ability."

Masar's trainer, Charlie Appleby, said: "I was pleased with the run and obviously he is very smart .

"He is a horse for the future and he wants further so we might step him up in trip on his next start. I think we will give him a bit of time for a late summer/autumn campaign and let him furnish a bit.

"We could look towards a mile next time but we will see how he develops."