It proved to be a successful day at Belmont for Victorian-based stallions for shortly after Fiorente’s Cousin Ivan claimed the Listed Aquanita Stakes, it was the turn of the Puissance de Lune (IRL) filly Chantrea to run her unbeaten sequence to five in the Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m).
With nominal favourite Kay Cee scratched, this proved easy work for the Lindsay Smith-trained filly.
With Willie Pike in the saddle the daughter of Puissance de Lune (IRL) defeated the highly consistent Cambist (Gingerbread Man) by a length with the Not A Single Doubt filly Heaven's Gift losing her unbeaten record, a half-head back in third.
A homebred for part-owner Professor John Yovich, Chantrea carried the same colours as Lady Astar who won the Belmont Oaks in 1990.
“This is an extreme thrill because a couple of my very best friends, Katrina Felstead and her husband Barry, are in the horse,” Yovich said.
“We planned the win many years ago when we put the mare to Puissance de Lune (IRL) to win the Oaks and the target was the Belmont Oaks before she had her first start.
“The Shamardal cross with Danzig line mares is the best in the world
Listen to an interesting interview with Professor Yovich below:
The final foal of her pensioned dam, Chantrea is the eleventh foal and ninth winner from ten to race out of the 4-time winning Danzig Connection mare Mosse, a half-sister to the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner and wonderful broodmare De Lago Mist the dam of stakes winners Instinction, Into The Mist and Shrouded in Mist.
Chantrea is the second stakes-winner for Swettenham Stud’s Puissance de Lune (IRL) who despite limited opportunities early in his career has made breeders sit up and take notice.
After covering just 40 mares in 2018, the son of Shamardal was swamped with 154 mares last spring, earning a rise in fee to $19,800 in 2020.
