Chicas Amigas joins Qatar Racing team

Qatar Racing have bought two-year-old Chicas Amigas and have entered her in the Gr. 1 Natalma Stakes on Sunday 16 September.

Chicas Amigas made a winning debut at Dundalk in May and then finished second to stablemate Servalan in a Listed race at Naas, where she also finished in front of subsequent Gr. 2 winner Skitter Scatter and Gr. 3 winner So Perfect.

After running in Group races at Royal Ascot and Newmarket on her next two starts, Chicas Amigas got back to winning ways in first-time cheekpieces at the Curragh a month ago, beating colts, including the Qatar Racing-owned Life Mission.

Chicas Amigas now looks ready for a step beyond six furlongs - her dam was a mile winner out of smart mile-and-a-half winner Red Peony - and it looks likely she will make her debut for Qatar Racing in the Natalma over a mile at Woodbine. Chicas Amigas will remain under the care of Jessica Harrington for the race, and it's a contest that went to a European filly last year in Marco Botti's Capla Temptress.

Chicas Amigas is one of 37 entries for the Natalma which also include Godolphin's La Pelosa. Mark Casse has won the race seven times and has entered Chocolatekisses and Eyeinthesky.

Qatar Racing's racing manager David Redvers said of the purchase: "Sheikh Fahad and Mark McStay, who acted as agent, wanted to buy a filly with a view to running in Canada and the US and she's exactly the right sort of filly.

"I went to see her myself and she's a gorgeous stamp of a horse and was very well bought as a yearling by Patrick Cooper. She's a big scopey girl who looks like she should continue to improve with time.

"A decision will be made after the Natalma Stakes as to whether she comes back to Jessie or stays in America."

Qatar Racing may also be represented in the other big two-year-old race at the meeting, the Summer Stakes, which will be run as a Gr. 1 for the first time this year. Federal Law (Archie Watson) and Life Mission (Johnny Murtagh) both hold entries.

Both races are "win and you're in" qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup, namely the Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Juvenile Turf.