Tiggy Wiggy Makes All in Cheveley Park Romp
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Tiggy Wiggy dashed to front from the gate and led all the way en route to a three-quarter-length triumph in the Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) for 2-year-old fillies Sept. 27 at Newmarket.
The 6/4 favorite, Tiggy Wiggy was pursued throughout by familiar rival Anthem Alexander, who drew close enough to challenge in the stretch. But the winner proved too strong after unleashing her drive two furlongs out for Richard Hughes.
"She was brilliant and what she did today was settle really well," Hughes told England's Press Association. "I got a very soft lead, I didn't increase the pace until probably 20 meters before the two-pole.
"She was very good at the start, and the more we can keep the lid on her, the better she is when she jumps," Hughes added.
Tiggy Wiggy was timed in 1:11.40 for six furlongs on good to firm turf, improving her record to 6-2-0 from eight career starts and winning for the first time at the group I level.
She is under consideration for the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Fr-I), in which she would be tested against older runners Oct. 5 at Longchamp. She also would have to be supplemented for the race Sept. 30, but trainer Richard Hannon told the Press Association: "We'll talk about it and see what we think, but you know us, we'll probably do it!"
A win would make her the first 2-year-old since Sigy in 1978 to capture the 1,000-meter (about five-furlong) race.
Anthem Alexander closed determinedly and cut into Tiggy Wiggy's two-length advantage into the stretch. She was best for second under Pat Smullen, 1 1/4 lengths in front of French raider High Celebrity, in her third race against Tiggy Wiggy. She defeated that rival by a neck in the Queen Anne Stakes (Engl-II) in June at Royal Ascot but then checked in third when Tiggy Wiggy aced the Pinsent Masons Lowther Stakes (Eng-II) Aug. 21 at York in a course record time for six furlongs.
"She was beaten by a superstar," trainer Eddied Lynam said of Anthem Alexander. "She'll go on her holidays now and the new group I (sprint in 2015) at Royal Ascot will be her big target."
Tiggy Wiggy, a daughter of Kodiac owned by Portensis Ltd., C. Giles, and Merriebelle Stables, is out of the Kheleyf mare Kheleyf's Silver, a half sister to group III winner Masta Plasta. She was bred in Ireland by Cbs Bloodstock.
Bloodstock agents Ross and Peter Doyle spent just £41,000 ($63,862 in United States funds) to buy Tiggy Wiggy from Ballyphilip Stud at the 2013 Doncaster Bloodstock Sales premier yearling sale.