The Grahame Begg-trained Mildred continue the ace recent record of fillies in the Group 3 $160,000 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) with her impressive first-up win in the Caulfield Blue Diamond lead-up on Saturday.
Chairman’s Stakes winning filly Milfred has firmed in 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes betting. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
In 2018 Begg and jockey Jordan Childs combined to win the Group 1 $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) with class colt Written By.
The duo present with another livewire chance in the autumn classic run this year on February 22 with well-bred Hinchinbrook filly Mildred who put the writing on the wall with her Chairman’s Stakes success fresh.
“She’s a real professional type,” Childs said.
“Good for her to come back and do it again. Hopefully she can keep going on with it.”
A two-time winner at Flemington to kick off her career last spring, the bay was last seen running just over a half-length fifth behind Ideas Man in the Inglis race on Cox Plate Day back in October.
She produced well in her first run of 2020 despite Begg’s concerns she might have been a little underdone after saving her for the Chairman’s instead of a Blue Diamond Preview run last weekend.
“It’s very exciting as we thought she was a little underdone going into today’s race,” Begg said after the win.
“She just goes out and puts it all on the line.
“From day one she’s always put herself right up there.”
Jumping cleanly from barrier one, Mildred accelerated in the first few strides to hit the front and led all-the-way after fighting it out over the final furlong with the Lindsay Park-trained favourite Aryaaf.
Aryaaf joined the frontrunner late after getting a run up the inside, but Mildred fought her off and came away a one length winner at $13 odds after pinning her ears back and going for it in the final 100m.
“Great ride, Jordy just let her roll along where she was in a good comfort zone and she finished off strong.”
A further four and a quarter-lengths back in a distant third was Aryaaf’s stablemate Frederick The Dane, the best finisher of the colts and geldings.
Mildred became the ninth filly in 11 years to win the Chairman’s Stakes joining: Loving Gaby (2019), Ennis Hill (2018), Formality (2017), Thurlow (2015), Nayeli (2014), Metastasio (2013), Mama’s Choice (2012) and Crystal Lily (2010).
The $140,000 Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on February 15 is next-up for Mildred where she will look for a hat-trick of wins down the straight at HQ.
“She’s been very effective up the straight,” Begg said.
“She won’t be well weighted for winning another Group race today but it’s about maximizing her value.”
From there she will contest the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes back at Caulfield on February 22.
Current futures betting on the Blue Diamond at Ladbrokes.com.au have firmed in from $15 to $26 on Mildred.
