The
juvenile maiden at Warwick Farm on Wednesday looked a strong affair on paper
with victory going to talented Wandjina colt Deep Chill, who will now be aimed
towards Group I races such as the ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne
Stakes.
Trained by David Payne, Deep Chill was fifth to subsequent $2million Inglis
Millennium winner Castelvecchio when making his debut at Canterbury last month
and then finished a good third to McLaren in the Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes
on February 2.
Stepping up to 1200 metres and dropped back to maiden class, Deep Chill came
with a well timed run under champion jockey Hugh Bowman to score a stylish long
neck win over promising More Than Ready (USA) filly Still Single, who is owned
by Cambridge Stud's Jo Lindsay. Rattling home for an eye-catching third was
Deep Field first starter Bullet Fly.
David Payne is excited about the prospects of Deep Chill, who runs for his long
time stable client John Cordina.
A $120,000 Magic Millions purchase, Deep Chill is a half-brother to Group III
winner Dreamforce and is the fourth winner from former top class mare Eskimo
Queen, who won both the Group I Queensland Oaks and STC Coolmore Classic.
"He's a nice horse and look at his pedigree… he'll get out to 1600 metres and
further," said David Payne.
"He passed in at the sales and John (Cordina) asked me to have a look and see
what I thought, so we bought him for $120,000 and now he looks like a cheap
horse.
"We'll look at the Sires and Champagne Stakes for him now."
Winning rider Hugh Bowman had high praise for Deep Chill.
"He's very raw and doesn't really feel like a Slipper horse, but it was an above
average maiden and I think you'll find that in six to eight months time when
this horse gets out to 1600 metres and beyond he will be top class," said
Bowman.
"I look forward to continuing my association with him."
Deep Chill was foaled and raised at Kitchwin Hills and they will offer his
half-sister by Fastnet Rock at Inglis Easter as Lot 444. Eskimo Queen is now in
foal to Wandjina's sire Snitzel, so will produce a three-quarter sibling to him
this year.
Deep Chill is the first winner for Newgate Farm's Wandjina, who is also the
sire of another stakes placed horse in Grand Scholar from just 10 runners to
date.