$5.6 million filly Chayan set for Princess Series

By Ray Thomas of Racing and Sports
 
Chayan, racing's $5.6 million filly, will be aimed at Sydney's coveted Princess Series during the coming spring carnival.
 
Trainer Annabel Archibald told Racing And Sports Chayan is back in work at her Warwick Farm stables and is being set for the rich three-year-old fillies races in the new season.
 
During her two-year-old campaign, Chayan was a brilliant winner of the Group 2 Reisling Stakes and started favourite at $5.50 in the Golden Slipper before finishing eighth behind Guest House.
 
Chayan's original owners then offered her for auction through Inglis' Chairmans Sale in early May where she sold for an incredible $5.6 million, the most expensive race filly to ever sell in Australia.
 
Global racing and breeding powerhouses Coolmore and Yulong staged a remarkable bidding duel for Chayan that lasted more than 10 minutes before Coolmore secured the daughter of super sire I Am Invincible.
 
Archibald, who trains in partnership with her husband Rob, was relieved when Coolmore's Tom Magnier confirmed they will continue to train the talented filly.
 
"We are just relieved to have Chayan back in the stable for the spring,'' Archibald said. "She has had a good spell and has come in really well but she is still a few weeks off a barrier trial.
 
"I think she will be on time for the second leg, the Furious Stakes.''
 
The Princess Series comprises four races for three-year-old fillies, starting with the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 22.
 
Archibald said Chayan should be ready to resume in the Group 2 $300,000 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 5 then is likely to go to the Group 2 $300,000 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 19 before the Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.
 
Chayan, a beautifully bred filly by I Am Invincible out of Lubiton, showed obvious natural talent during her four-start juvenile campaign and Archibald believes the best is yet to come from the filly.
 
"When we knew she was going through the ring, Rob rang Tom (Magnier, Coolmore supremo) to stay we would love to keep training the filly,'' Archibald said.
 
"We have had a bit of luck with Coolmore over the years with the likes of Learning To Fly so we were very grateful when Coolmore won the battle for Chayan and said the filly will stay with us for next season.''
 
Magnier said after purchasing Chayan that the filly will stay with the Archibalds for her three-year-old season.
 
"I think she'd suit a stallion like Super Seth but there's a lot of racing there yet, it's over to Rob and Annabel now,'' Magnier said.