Chitty hopes filly can express herself in Guineas
Leading New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) contenders Xpression and Melt once shared a paddock at Haunui Farm, but there will be no love lost between the star threeyear-old fillies when they contest the Riccarton feature in Christchurch today.
They currently head the market for the Group I 1000 Guineas with TAB bookmakers, with Xpression sitting as a warm $2.30 favourite and Melt earmarked as the next best chance at $3.
While Haunui Farm principal Mark Chitty will be barracking for both fillies down the straight today, he will be cheering even louder for Xpression as she carries home the Haunui Farm colours.
Chitty co-bred and co-owns the daughter of Showcasing and said it had been a huge thrill to watch her perform so well on the track.
From five starts, the Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained filly has won three races, including two at Group level.
She also placed in her other two starts, including a brave runner-up performance behind Avantage in the Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings last month.
‘‘She has done everything that could be expected of her,’’ Chitty said. ‘‘She’s been in the South Island since the Barneswood at Ashburton and by all accounts she has trained on nicely since that win.’’
Xpression has trialled at Motukarara since her victory in the Group III Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), winning comfortably under premiership-winning jockey Samantha Collett. ‘‘She’s come through that trial really well. Sam Collett went down and rode her that day and they all seem pretty happy with where she is at,’’ Chitty said.
While confident of his filly’s chances, Chitty is mindful of the strong form around some of her competitors.
‘‘Melt’s form through Madison County [winner of the 2000 Guineas] is probably the strongest form in the field and there’s Media Sensation, the Peter and Dawn Williams stable is on fire,’’ Chitty said.
Meanwhile, Felaar and Mental Telepathy will fight out favouritism for the Group III New Zealand Cup over 3200m.
Felaar looked in need of the run when second to Gee And Dee over 2500m on the first day Riccarton, while Mental Telepathy was making huge strides coming from the tail of the field to grab third.
Felaar was a $3.80 TAB final field favourite yesterday with Mental Telepathy at $4.80.
Dee And Gee was at $10, just shaded in the betting by topweight Major Tom ($8) and the evergreen Samson $9.50.