The 2021 WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette has retired to the Plattner’s La Plaissance Stud.
After winning on debut in June 2021, she just got better and better through the Spring and Summer.
Grant van Niekerk steers Chansonette to victory in the 2021 WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Andre Nel’s charge stunned Desert Miracle in the Gr1 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, then ran close seconds to champion, Captain’s Ransom in the Cartier Paddock and Schweppes Majorca Stakes, both Gr1’s.
Watch the WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas replay here:
Nel wisely decided to rest her after those Summer of ‘22 heroics and give her time to develop physically.
The bay returned to action in October of that year at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in the Gr3 Diana Stakes where she succumbed by half a length, as favourite, to Santa Maria.
There was no disgrace in the effort, but rather than go forward from that comeback she regressed slightly at her next start when a tamely, fading third to emerging three-year-old star, Make It Snappy.
Such are the vagaries of racing. From being a rapidly progressive youngster mixing it with the country’s best (apart from downing Desert Miracle, she finished ahead of multiple Gr1 winner, Princess Calla a couple of times,) Chansonette was slipping backwards.
It turned out she’d developed a severe bleeding problem. Beset by epistaxis, her performances suffered.
Despite Nel’s best efforts to manage a difficult situation, Chansonette trailed in last at her next two starts and a prudent decision was taken to call time on her racing career. From seemingly being poised to win more Gr1’s as a mature four-year-old, it was suddenly all over – a wistful case of what- might- have- been on the racetrack.
Much of the allure of racing lies in its mystique.
No one really knows for sure what will happen and there are no certainties nor rigid rules that reassuringly apply. It’s ideal when talent and durability go together in a potent thoroughbred package, but that rarely happens.
Chansonette is now at stud – an immaculately conformed specimen, with a great race record (highest OMR 123) compiled in an all-too-brief golden summer.
A R500 000 buy from the 2020 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Chansonette was the third Gr1 winner at the time for Silvano sire Vercingetorix.
Out of the speedy Champery (runner up in the Listed Perfect Promise Sprint), Chansonette’s granddam Celigny (by Mr. Greeley) is a half-sister to Gr1 Las Virgenes Stakes winner Eden’s Moon.
- Cape Racing
