War Chant (USA) warhorse Mood Swings took a while to win at black-type level but it was worth the wait for trainer George Dupre and owner Barry Evans.
The 7yo gelding is a veteran of 49 starts and Saturday’s victory in the LR Grandstand Cup (1500m) sent his bank-balance through $600,000 boosted by Westspeed bonuses of $41,880. He had gone close to a breakthrough earlier this prep when placed in the LR Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) and LR Bunbury Stakes (1400m).
“He’s going super and is getting better with age,” Dupre declared after the front-running victory. “He’s a sound horse but was a handful when we first got him. Barry picked him out at the (2018) Winter Yearling Sale and all I said was make sure his legs are straight. He had $25,000 to spend and the horse only cost $7,000.”
The Grandstand Cup (Photo / Western Racepix) was also a black-type first for apprentice Luke Campbell. “That’s right up there and it’s a very special moment for me. He kept hanging out in the Bunbury Stakes but I could tell he was on his game going down to the barriers.
“He flew when I worked him on Tuesday morning and he relaxed today so I could rate him in front. I couldn’t claim so I’m grateful to George and Linda for sticking with me.”
The stewards weren’t so magnanimous. They cautioned Campbell for permitting his mount to shift outwards uncorrected in the straight and fined him $200 for a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post.
War Chant (Danzig) stands at Yarradale Stud and his 46th Stakes-winner was bred in partnership with Waldeck Farms. He’s the only named foal of Scarlet Storm (Commands) who owns a pedigree blessed with black-type going back generations.
Second-dam Storm Alert (Metal Storm) was Group 1 placed in the 2004 Victorian Oaks behind Hollow Bullet and Kylikwong and later won a G3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield. His third-dam Marrich Bay (Old Spice) also foaled Hardrada (G1 Railway Stakes) and Ranger (G2 Lee-Steere Stakes).
The bulk of War Chant’s 46 individual Stakes winners have been bred in North America (23) and Australia (12). Overall, they have won a total of 90 Stakes races. He was based at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky prior to shuttling to Yarradale for three seasons before making a permanent move in 2014.
