Chynchilla is a real thriller

The winning form of Chynchilla continued tonight as Nathan Dawson guided the mare to her seventh win from her past eight starts.

Sent forward to take control with 1100 metres to travel, it was a one-act affair thereafter as the speedy mare put the mile behind her with splits of 27.1, 29.2, 28.1 and blazing home in 27.4 to post a winning margin of 14 metres.

The latest victory followed two wins during September, which was enough for Chynchilla to be crowned the Changeover Mare of the Month.

Picking up six points for the two winning appearances, connections receive a service to Changeover courtesy of Garrards for the title, Chynchilla holding a one-point advantage over Aardie B Miki, Its Ebonynivory and Torque Like Motion which all finished on equal points.

Arriving with Donny Smith in the middle of the Constellations Carnival, Chynchilla’s first appearance came on the eve of the Group 1 Golden Girl where she contested a lower tier event and finished near the rear of the field.

Despite the failure, there were excuses on hand and the four-year-old bounced back by going on a four-win streak which included a 1.53.3 win at Redcliffe to equal the mares class record, along with a sizzling career best 1.51.0 win from gate 7 here at The Creek.

Tackling open company on September 7, Shane Graham took the reins and although beaten for early speed by Diamond Shooz, continued to apply pressure until working to the front at the 1100.

Through a steady 58.2 middle half, the ribbons were cut up the stretch, the four-year-old sizzling home in a 26.6 closing panel to take a 4-metre winning margin.

With two weeks between runs, Smith set Chynchilla for another mares open event, and her speed was again on full display with Nathan Dawson taking the reins.

Making light work of another wide gate, Dawson kept the speed on throughout, stomping out a 54.2 closing half in pulling away to a 16.5-metre winning margin.

With comparisons starting to be made with Smith’s recently retired star mare of the past two seasons- Uptown Beachgirl- the astute mentor is quick to point out that both mares are vastly different in their attributes and strengths.

Developing a good relationship with her owners, Chynchilla is raced by the same group that raced Uptown Beachgirl with Smith, the group of four all hailing from Forbes in the Central West of New South Wales- Jason Gaffney and Mark Hartwig, Geoff Hartwig and Bailey Hartwig.