Chapilla Thriller

Tall and headstrong like a stubbornly wayward teenage girl, Chapilla broke her maiden the hard way at Nowra on Sunday when surviving a spirited protest by her runner-up to secure her first win over 1400m. 

Chapilla broke cleanly for Jeff Penza and from the advantage of barrier three was able to boot up and box-seat behind leader Elusive Filly from the neighbouring Bjorn Baker stable.

Chasing the frontrunner’s slipstream gave Chapilla an easy trail before the powerfully-built bay forced her way out at the 400m mark to push All The Aces and odds-on pop Ideal Express three and four wide respectively as they turned. 

From there Chapilla was able to take control and capitalise on the ideal run, before a few slaps of Penza’s persuader saw her swerve off course and into the path of All The Aces who was battling away a length behind. 

Darting left and right as Penza switched whip hands like the infamous Jarrod Hayne in a 49‘ers match, Chapilla had enough momentum to defeat All The Aces by a long neck with Ideal Express beaten into third. 

“She’s a strong filly; she really pushed her way out in the straight and got past (All The Aces) pretty quickly” commented the winning rider. 

“She laid in a fair bit and was green coming into the final 200m but she really picked herself up again and balanced nicely.

“She ran around a bit in the straight but certainly got the job done and got the win”.

Chapilla’s tendency to “stargaze”, as described by the racecaller over the concluding stages, put the pair in hot water post race as All The Aces’ jock Peter Wells lodged his objection for interference at the 200m mark. 

Pfieffer’s filly certainly galloped a jagged path however stewards were satisfied had All The Aces received clear running the Turner and Mauro-trained gelding would not have reversed the order. 

Trainer David Pfieffer, who had watched the race from his Brisbane hotel room after accompanying Denmagic to the races on Saturday, was relieved that Chapilla had not only survived the protest and kept the race, but had settled so well in the run. 

“It was great to see her jump so well and get the box seat, where she settled nicely under Jeff (Penza) and could challenge in the straight” said Pfieffer. 

“She ran around a bit in the straight but certainly got the job done and got the win”

The win will surely not be the last for the daughter of champion sire High Chaparral, who died in 2014, as her trainer sees plenty of improvement is yet to come; including alignment lessons. 

“Hopefully this run will give her the confidence to put a few more together”.