Rae Guest now has two arrows to fire at the £150,000 Coral All-Weather Fillies’ & Mares’ Championships following Fauvette’s success in the chelmsfordcityracecourse.com Fillies' Conditions Stakes on Thursday evening.
The seven-furlong contest was the last of four Fast-Track Qualifiers in this category and the Newmarket trainer’s Arriviste had already guaranteed her place in the final when winning at Southwell in January.
All eyes were on the returning Highfield Princess, who had upwards of 15lb in hand over her five rivals on official ratings. The 8/13 favourite travelled strongly at the head of affairs but was unable to get away from her rivals in the straight.
Having tracked Highfield Princess from the outset, Fauvette was switched out by Callum Shepherd and came with a strong run passing the furlong pole. The 5/1 chance edged ahead soon after and had enough in reserve to hold off the rallying Arousing on her outside to score by a neck, with Highfield Princess half a length further back in third.
Guest, who also owns the winner, said: “We are very pleased with that. You never really know in a conditions race with a small field, but Fauvette likes Chelmsford and we thought she was in great form.
“My wife picked her out at the sales – she is a Shadwell cast off – and she came to us as a three-year-old who had never run.
“This is her third win at Chelmsford and fourth overall. She is qualified for the final at Newcastle and that will be the next step.
“Arriviste is also qualified and time will tell whether they both run but it would be nice to go up there with two live chances.”
Guest’s wife Rachel said: “Fauvette was a really good looking filly at the sales. She was quite a late foal, so I felt there was more to come from her and I could not have her walking around for £4,000 and not put my finger up. I have said to Rae that a Listed race and the July Cup would do nicely!”
