Deep Field was expected to get the winner of the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Kembla on Saturday with race favourite Big Parade, but at the winning post it was another son of the Newgate Farm sire that got the prize with underestimated sprinter Chat saluting for his first Black type success.
Chat is trained by John Thompson, who earlier this week took the decision to retire his stable star Dreamforce after a long and fruitful career that netted over $2.5million.
His departure will no doubt leave a gap in the stable, but Chat has quickly put his hand up to help fill the void.
A steady improver that has gradually worked his way up the grades, five year-old Chat finished second two starts back in the Group II ATC Missile Stakes indicating a race like this would not be beyond his grasp.
Well ridden by Brock Ryan, Chat came with a perfectly timed run from off the pace to surge past Embracer and Big Parade to win by a neck taking his overall record to six wins and six placings from 23 starts with prizemoney in excess of $457,000.
“They ripped along in front all in one line and I had the nice sit on them and when we peeled out he let down really good,” said Ryan.
A $130,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer from the Canning Downs draft, Chat is a half-brother to Group II winner Holy Snow and is the best of eight winners from good producing Group II winner Only Words.
Only Words has a two year-old filly by Merchant Navy and was covered last spring by Spirit of Boom after missing to him the year before.
Chat is the 11th stakes-winner for Deep Field, who nearly had a race to race Group double with his flying mare Fituese finishing second in the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes.
Deep Field stands at a fee of $88,000 at Newgate Farm this spring.
