Late blooming War Chant (USA) gelding Mood Swings earned a second Listed stakes success with a determined win in Saturday’s Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m) at Belmont.
Given a positive ride by apprentice Luke Campbell, the 8-year-old gelding chased down the stubborn leader Phanta (Gingerbread Man) to win by a half-length. Super Smink (Super One) was a short-head back in third.
Earning his first stakes win in the Listed Grandstand Cup at Ascot in March, the George Dupre-trained Mood Swings advances his record to nine wins, ten seconds, and nine thirds from 54 starts with earnings of $715,015.
Mood Swings was making his first start in 19 weeks, and Dupre said finding suitable races is becoming more difficult.
“His rating is so high now there are only a certain number of races he can go in,” Dupre said.
“He has matured and definitely got better in the last couple of years and can grind out the longer races now.
“He has been working well and trialled brilliantly; I was surprised he was 20/1.”
Bred by Yarradale Stud, Mood Swings was a bargain basement $7,000 purchase for George and Lyndall Dupre, at the 2018 Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale.
He is the only foal to race for the unraced Commands mare Scarlet Storm, a half-sister to the stakes-winners Dark Alert (Testa Rossa) and Windstorm (Redoute’s Choice).
Scarlet Storm is a daughter of the Group III WW Cockram Stakes winner and Group 1 VRC Oaks third, Storm Alert (Metal Storm), a half-sister to Group 1 WATC Railway Stakes winner Hardrada and Group II Lee Steere Stakes winner Ranger.
Scarlet Storm had just two live foals before she died in 2019.
Mood Swings is one of 47 stakes-winner for Breeders’ Cup Mile winner War Chant (USA), died at age 27 in April at Yarradale Stud.
The son of Danzig covered eight mares last spring and has two foals on the ground to date.
