SOUTH AFRICA: Chesalon Collects Premier Trophy

Sunday, 11 December 2011: Chesalon trained by Mike Bass and ridden by Bernard Fayd'Herbe, snatched the lead in the final stages to win the R300 000 Grade 3 Premier Trophy at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Chesalon wins the Premier Photo by Gold Circle

After impressing on his seasonal debut when third behind Tales of Bravery, the son of Fort Wood clearly enjoyed the step up in distance. After racing just off the pace for most of the race, Chesalon kicked clear at the 150m mark to notch up his fifth career victory.

Master Barry  jumped best and led the field all the way into the home straight. Chesalon , Cask  and Lion in Winter  raced up with the pace just behind the leader, with English Garden midfield and second favourite, Run For It, at the rear of the field, some 16 lengths of the leader.

The lightly weighted Lake Arthur charged into the lead at the 300m mark, but Fayd'Herbe who had jumped from barrier one, still had plenty in hand and sent Chesalon after him.

With 150m to go Chesalon hit the front and was far too good for the chasing pack, crossing the line 0.75L in front of Cask (Fort Wood). Run For It(Dynasty) came with a blinding run up the outside together with favourite, Lion In Winter(Western Winter), but the deficit was too great and the pair had to settle for third and fourth respectively.

“Chesalon normally doesn't show pace but we found ourselves in second this time so I dropped him back a little. In the straight I could feel he'd be hard to beat, he was travelling well. He's a smart horse and won a good race” commented Fayd'Herbe.

Chesalon recorded his fifth win from twelve starts and the ultra consistent four-year-old has only been unplaced three times. Bred by the Cape based Avontuur Stud out of the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes winner, Sarabande, Chesalon is owned Messrs P Bamford, P Sukdeo and D J Visagie.

A half brother to Chesalon by champion sire Jet Master will be offered at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale in January.

Final Result:



No Horse Jockey Dr Dist Time SP
6 CHESALON Bernard Fayd'Herbe 1 0.00 111.57 5/1
3 CASK Alec Forbes 8 0.75 111.71 25/1
7 RUN FOR IT Richard Fourie 9 1.25 111.81 28/10
2 LION IN WINTER Glen Hatt 5 2.00 111.95 2/1
4 SUPER STORM Aldo Domeyer 12 3.25 112.19 14/1