Godolphin pair placed in G1 Chipping Norton Stakes

The Godolphin runners Colette and Avilius produced performances of great courage and promise when they finished second and third in Saturday’s G1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick.

Colette, the winner of the G1 ATC Oaks last autumn, the $7.5 million Golden Eagle in the spring and the G2 Apollo Stakes when first-up two weeks ago, confirmed her status as an emerging star of Australian racing as she fought out the finish with the winner Verry Elleegant.

The gallant mare went down by a half-neck to her older rival for whom the victory was her seventh at G1 level.

Avilius, himself a multiple G1 winner, finished third, less than a half-length from Verry Elleegant, having looked a likely victor when he charged at the leaders inside the 200m.

Last autumn in Sydney Verry Elleegant twice finished second to the English horse Addeybb who returned home to win the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Colette showed she was at a similar level and is likely to continue her campaign in the G1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill next month.

Jockey Rachel King had Colette travelling kindly outside the leader Kolding and made her move inside the 300m, briefly joining the lead.

She showed tremendous fight and was maintaining her position in the run to the line while Avilius, having the first run of his latest campaign, made up many lengths before his run peaked just short of the post.