Chilly Girl proves too hot for Widden Stakes rivals

The Golden Slipper is the ultimate goal for speedy filly Chilly Girl.

She had to do it at both ends of the race, but Chilly Girl  proved up to the task, leading throughout for a game victory in the Widden Stakes at Rosehill in faster time than the colts and geldings' division.

Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, the daughter of dual stakes winner I Got Chills showed tremendous courage to firstly shake off favourite Miss Scandal at the top of the straight then surge again when eventual runner-up Miss Chanel issued a late challenge.

She held on by a neck and her time of 1:03.82 was a touch faster than Hidrix's mark of 1:04.03 in winning the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) 35 minutes earlier.

"I don't think she could have done anymore," Alexiou said.

"That was really impressive. I was hoping she'd get it a bit softer than that but 'J Mac' (jockey James McDonald on Miss Scandal) pressed the button on coming out of the gates and applied quite a bit of pressure throughout.

"She was good enough and seasoned enough to kick away and hold a bit of a margin late. I'm really happy to see her do that at her first start."

Alexiou admitted he feared Chilly Girl might have been vulnerable over the final stages after absorbing pressure early and said her professionalism was her biggest attribute.

"She's bombproof. You wouldn't think she is a two-year-old filly having her first start at her home track. She is a little gem," he said.

Alexiou confirmed Chilly Girl would be aimed towards the Golden Slipper (1200m), via the fillies' races, provided she continued to handle her first racing campaign.

"As long as she keeps going the right way," he said.

"How far she goes, I'm not sure, but we will give her every chance.

"We haven't got a lot of autumn two-year-olds. A lot of ours are going to be end of the autumn into the winter. She would be top of the tree at the minute, more so because of her professionalism."

Chilly Girl is now on the third line of Slipper betting at $11, behind equal favourite Warwoven and Hidrix at $8.

Miss Scandal struggled to handle the occasion after trialling well and tired to finish eighth, trainer Chris Waller saying she would be sent for a spell.