Choisya landed a nice touch when coming from off the pace to win the Coral Fillies’ Handicap under a confident ride from Jack Mitchell.
Having been available at 33/1 this morning, the gamble into 10/1 proved fully justified as Simon & Ed Crisford’s charge cruised her way into contention, avoiding all the scrimmaging on the inside.
The Night Of Thunder filly only needed to be pushed out late on to record a decisive three-quarter length victory, with Novus (5/1) and Shadwell filly Rowayeh (5/1) filling the places.
Ed Crisford said: “I am really pleased with Choisya. She travelled into it so sweetly, picked up nicely and won well.
“It didn’t really work out that day [when well beaten in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot]. She jumped quite quick and was leading the field, but stopped pretty quickly. She bounced back today and, while we were concerned about the ground, she handled it super well.
“Jack [Mitchell] said she travelled really well behind the leaders and was going sweetly in his hands. When he asked the question, she picked up so well in the ground. He said that cantering to post he thought she might not go on the ground and she couldn’t get her feet out, but she won really well.
“She has won off 90 today so a little bit of black type could be next if we can find the right race for her. She can go on this ground, which opens a few more doors up in September.
“I think she will stay a mile and a quarter. We were thinking of stepping her up in trip this week, but when you can win over a mile like that, it shows she is versatile. She is in on Saturday [Goodwood Coral Handicap] and I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Mitchell said: “It was a lovely run from Choisya. I was drawn wide so switched tactics up a little bit today and dropped in a bit, which seemed to work really nicely.
“We went an even gallop. There was a bit of scrimmaging in front of me and I managed to stay clear of that. She got there quite easily. She is an improving filly, and she’s tough.
“We were not sure about the ground, but she clearly went on it. Hopefully, there is another big day ahead of her.”