Chapple-Hyam delighted with ‘impressive’ Oaks contender Gonnadancealot
Newmarket-based co-owner thrilled by the potential of Sir Prancealot filly after Flemington romp
Australian national Jane Chapple-Hyam is excited to follow the progress of the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained Gonnadancealot (Sir Prancealot), who is being lined up for the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) after an impressive performance at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Chapple-Hyam, who resides in Newmarket after moving to the UK as a youngster, co-owns the filly with Eimear Donnelly from Alliance Bloodstock, with the pair picking up the daughter of Sir Prancealot (Tamayuz) for $30,000 from the Ruby Racing and Breeding draft at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Ridden by Jamie Kah in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) on Saturday, the juvenile improved from a second-placed effort at Bendigo last month with a comfortable two and three-quarter-length defeat of Aktolgali (Adelaide).
De Kock revealed post-race that Gonnadancealot will be lined up for the Oaks, and Chapple-Hyam is excited by the prospect of co-owning a horse of her calibre.
“It was very impressive, she’s improved mentally and she’ll be ready for the Oaks hopefully,” she told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“We will maybe take on a race on the way to the spring carnival. She’s come out of the race good, Matt told me this morning, and we’re really pleased with the effort. We’ve got a lot to look forward to.
“I think we’ll learn a lot over the next two months and see what else comes out,” Chapple-Hyam added when asked about Gonnadancealot’s chances in the Oaks.
“I’m sure there’s going to be loads coming out in September time, and in the Ethereal Stakes and the Wakeful in October. Something might also step-up from the Guineas.”
Chapple-Hyam was hoping to attend last year’s Perth Yearling Sale, held in mid February, in person, but Covid worries meant it was not possible. Tony (Tubba) Williams was brought in to assist with the purchase of Gonnadancealot, who is one of five winners from six to race out of Tresillian (Danehill).
“I was in Dubai with Ambassadorial, who I own and train, and jockey John Egan was keen to go to Perth for the sales with his partner Eimear, who subsequently owns the filly with me 50-50,” she said.
“We provisionally booked flights out of Dubai to Perth then had to cancel as we were concerned about getting back for Ambassadorial’s race, and the chat about Covid started to concern us. I then phoned Tony Williams who I’ve known for years to bid on our behalf.
“Eimear liked the sire and I liked the TrueNicks report and the videos Tubba sent showed a nice type of filly. And the Danehill on the dams side intrigued us.
“This is the first filly Alliance Bloodstock have got involved with in Australia and I’m sure they want to continue buying when travel gets back to normality. Alliance bloodstock have been buying mainly in the UK, Ireland and America for the past five years with great results.”
Eimear Donnelly from Alliance confirmed she is keen to purchase more horses from Australian sales after having a first taste of success Down Under with Gonnadancealot.
“Hopefully she can compete at that level (VRC Oaks), it’s very exciting. It’s early days and she’s only two,” said Donnelly.
“It’s our first horse in Australia, but we’re planning on buying more yearlings this year. We’re setting up a syndicate and we want to have some investors in Australia as the prize-money is so appealing.
“We’ll have a look at all the sales, I don’t know about travel restrictions but John (Egan) will try to travel as much as he can.”
Unlike Donnelly, Chapple-Hyam has had previous experience owning a horse in Australia with Mull Of Killough (Mull Of Kintyre), who ran well in stakes company when tested Down Under in the spring of 2013.
The multiple Group-winning trainer, who worked under Colin Hayes at Lindsay Park when she was 16, is keen to increase her involvement in Australian racing in the future, but any big plans are being put on hold due to the impact Covid-19 has had on travel.
“I was lucky enough to have shares in Mull Of Killough and really enjoyed the experience travelling him around the world as an owner-trainer. He raced twice at Flemington with a third in the Victorian Plate Handicap and a fourth in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes, so I’ve had the taste for it.
“I would like to be more involved but currently with travel restrictions into Australia for sales it’s been tough on everyone worldwide, so we’ll just see how we get on this Spring Carnival.
“Whether Eimear and I get to Australia for the Oaks, it will depend on what the restrictions are on flying into Australia. I’ve still got an Aussie passport – maybe I need to find a horse to take out there!”
Chapple-Hyam’s relationship with Mathew de Kock began in Newmarket, and she also has a loose connection with de Kock’s father Mike, who is the winningmost Grade 1 trainer in South Africa.
“I met Matt when he was in Newmarket a few years ago doing the National Stud course, which I did over 30 years ago, and his pedigree speaks for itself,” she said.
“I’m lucky enough to rent Abington Place Stables in Newmarket from Mary Slack, who is an owner-breeder at a stud farm in South Africa, and has horses in training with Matt’s father Mike de Kock, so when I heard he was assistant to Robbie Griffiths, I thought ‘why not’.
“We have regular contact, it’s probably harder for him training for a trainer! We had a good laugh and a chat this morning about the race, which was fun.”