Well-related Tulloch Lodge filly Chateau Miraval has got her career off to a flying start with a nail-biting win at Randwick’s Kensington track in a race that has had a dramatic postscript.
Chateau Miraval narrowly held out fellow Yulong-owned juvenile Growing Empire in a driving finish before a heart-in-mouth moment when the runner-up veered sharply sideways shortly after the winning post.
Jockey Jason Collett bailed from the saddle just before Growing Empire jumped through the outside rail, missing a photographer by inches.
Fortunately, neither horse nor jockey was seriously injured, both getting back on their feet, although a worse-for-wear Collett was stood down from his remaining rides by the club doctor as a precaution after complaining of pain in his neck and leg.
Chateau Miraval started a $2.15 favourite off the back of two recent trial wins and showed natural speed to lead before digging deep to stave off Growing Empire in the Prague Yearlings Selling Now Plate (1100m), with President making ground for third.
By young stallion Zousain, the winner was a $650,000 Magic Millions purchase and winning jockey Tim Clark said Chateau Miraval reminded him of her three-quarter sister North Star Lass, who he partnered to victory in the 2022 Group 2 Furious Stakes.
“She is very much like her sister North Star Lass, who I had a lot to do with, and hopefully she can go onto those good heights as well,” Clark said.
“To the second horse’s credit, he really stuck it to her and just wouldn’t go away, but she was very brave and she is going to take improvement out of the run.”
Chateau Miraval continued the two-year-old dominance of trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott, the latter confirming plans to step the youngster up to black-type company over the carnival.
Like Clark, Bott says the filly will take benefit from her first race day experience and believes she has the ability to handle a rise to stakes grade.
“She is certainly one of the better fillies we have got in the yard, no doubt,” Bott said.
“We would like to link her into some of the fillies’ series now, the fillies lead-ups towards the (Golden) Slipper and see how she can stack up there.
“I think she can get to that black-type level and that would be important for her family and her connections.”
The midweek meeting also featured a rare appearance by top Victorian jockey Craig Williams, who answered a call from Chris Waller to make the interstate trip.
However, Williams’ didn’t manage to land a blow after his original book was reduced from five rides to two by scratchings, his best result a third aboard Unstopabull in the Vinery Yearlings Handicap (1000m).
