Don’t Stop Believing as Highclere Lands Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes

A thrilling renewal of the Ire Incentive It Pays To Buy Irish Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes saw the favourite Believing battle home just in time to peg back Irish raider Catherine Of Siena in the shadow of the post. The tough daughter of Mehmas had finished fifth in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes just a week earlier for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing and trainer George Boughey.

The Kevin Thomas Coleman-trained Catherine Of Siena was quickly out of the stalls to grab the lead from the off, with the eventual winner buried away in mid-pack under James Doyle. As the field turned for home and fanned wide, Believing was able to find a gap and make a bid for glory, prevailing by a neck over the runner-up, with the Richard Fahey-trained Marine Wave making late headway to take third.

A field of 13 had gone to post for the six-furlong Listed contest for three-year-olds, with the winner claiming the lion’s share of the £80,000 pot and taking home £45,368 in prize-money, which was paid out down to sixth place.

We were particularly delighted to welcome two runners from Ireland, with Johnny Murtagh having also sent over Wave Machine in pursuit of a decent purse and valuable black type.

As the winner Believing was bred in Ireland, her owners also received a €10,000 voucher to spend at the Irish yearling sales later this year thanks to the generous sponsorship of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, which is backing six races at Chelmsford City Racecourse this year under the ITM Incentive Scheme.