Chaldean (GB)

Chaldean broke his maiden in only the second race of his two-year-old season. His next run saw him take on the Gr.3 Acomb Stakes at York on the 17th August. Sent off the second favourite he rallied bravely in the closing stages to deny Irish raider Indestructible to win by half a length.

Juddmonte's Racing Manager Barry Mahon commented: ""He's a lovely horse and Andrew [Balding] has been very happy with him since he joined him in February," said racing manager Barry Mahon. "He's very straightforward, he's done it well and he was gutsy. Ryan [Moore] feels like he'll step up to a mile on his next start, which is good, so we'll get him home and see what's available and make a plan from there."

Chaldean's next start, less than a month later saw him face Invincible again as well as Silver Knott who had placed fourth behind him in his maiden win at Newbury, in the Gr.2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Making all, Chaldean was asked to stretch with three furlongs remaining and reached the winning post three and a half lengths ahead of Invincible.

Chaldean continued his winning streak into October with the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. He recovered from a scrappy departure to lead after the initial strides not coming under pressure until threatened by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Nostrum approaching the quarter mile marker. He fended off Nostrum and the late charge of Royal Scotsman to win by a head.

Frankie Dettori commented:  "I was nothing but impressed when I rode him at Doncaster and the first thing I said to Andrew after was to go for the Dewhurst and he obliged. He's a proper Guineas horse for next year and we can dream now."

Chaldean's 2000 Guineas prep race, the Gr.3 Greenham Stakes, did not go to plan with jockey Frankie Dettori unseated as they exited the stalls. Nevertheless, Chaldean headed into the Guineas as second favourite. The soft ground at Newmarket's Rowley Mile proved no impediment as Chaldean forged clear up the rising ground out of the dip. He hit the line strong with one and three-quarter lengths to spare over Hi Royal to become Juddmonte's fifth winner of the race.

Prince Saud bin Khalid said he was proud of a "spectacular achievement" and added: "Our commitment in Juddmonte to horseracing at large, and the sport particularly in England, is unwavering, and I’d like to emphasise that. My presence as a representative of Juddmonte today is the testimony to this."

He continued: "Winning this race has been always exciting and enticing and I have to say we've seen the best of the horse today."

Chaldean is a rare Juddmonte purchase, having been acquired at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 550,000gns in 2020. He was bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud out of Suelita, a multiple-winning half-sister to Gr.3-placed Outer Space and Ayr Missile, dam of Gr.2 Lowther Stakes winner Living In The Past. He is a half-brother to Gr.2 winner Alkumait, stakes winner The Broghie Man and stakes performers Get Ahead and Gloves Lynch.