Madame Chiang Strikes in Fillies and Mares
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Madame Chiang capitalized when erratic front-runner Chicquita dramatically hung left in the final 100 yards and captured the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (Eng-I) Oct.18 at Ascot.
A 3-year-old filly from the first crop of Archipenko , Kirsten Rausing's homebred Madame Chiang stayed on strongly to win by two lengths after Chicquita went veering across the course with Joseph O'Brien, throwing away first as well as second place. Late-running Silk Sari grabbed the runner-up spot while Chicquita held on for third, three-quarters of a length farther back.
Seal of Approval, the 4-1 favorite, finished fifth in failing to repeat last year's facile win in the race.
Making her fifth career start, Madame Chiang relished the soggy surface and willingly advanced from the back of the field and into contention a quarter mile out. After tracking the early leaders, Chicquita struck for the lead a furlong from home, but was beaten by her antics.
"I got a lovely run through and she was very game," jockey Jim Crowley said of Madame Chiang, who finished 1 1/2 miles in 2:38.76.
Madame Chiang aced her career debut last October and made her first race of 2014 a winning one in taking the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Eng-III) May 14 at York, before finishing 10th in the Investec Epsom Oaks (Eng-I). She came into the Fillies and Mares after finishing sixth in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) Sept. 14 at Longchamp.
The winner held up the start of the Fillies and Mares when she was reluctant to load into the gate and was only coaxed in after being blindfolded.
"Madam Chiang is all about patience," trainer David Simcock said. "This was the fifth run of her career and we have tried to look after her. "We took our chance in the Oaks, which wasn't the best move, but there is only one Oaks.
"When somebody puts so much time and effort and puts their life into is like Kirsten does, it's very special."
Rausing bred Madame Chiang from the winning Robellino mare Robe Chinoise.