While owner Jeff Smith is still chasing the elusive Classic victory, he may have his best chance to win this season in the Guineas when Ghostwriter and See The Fire travel to Newmarket the following weekend in an attempt to win a major race.
The likes of Lochsong and Persian Punch have helped to popularise Smith's famous purple and blue silks over the years, and Chief Singer came the closest to ending the Hampshire-based owner's winning streak in the year's most important races when she finished second in the 2000 Guineas forty years ago.
But now that the three-year-olds heading to Newmarket with the biggest claims this year have given him reason to dream again.
First competing for Classic honours is the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who won the Royal Lodge after going undefeated in his two-year campaign and dazzled over the Guineas track and trip.
With a profile like that, Smith can't wait for his son Invincible Spirit to return to the Rowley Mile and face opponents like Rosallion and the City of Troy.
He said: “I haven’t seen him for two weeks but Clive is very upbeat and couldn’t have the horse in better condition, given there is only a week to go – and we’re extremely hopeful.“He’s an unbeaten two-year-old with cracking form and we would go there with every chance. If you take the favourite out of the colts’ race, then it is wide open. Chief Singer came second but Norse Dancer came third and was beaten slightly less, so you could argue that was better. I’ve had the second, third and fourth, so it’s time for that to change.”
Even though Chief Singer's colts' one-mile showpiece silver medal was won forty years ago, the owner of Littleton Stud still has fond memories of the horse, who narrowly missed out on Classic honours but went on to win three of the biggest races of the summer.
Under Ron Sheather's guidance, Chief Singer would secure a particular spot in his owner's heart by winning the St. James's Palace Stakes, the July Cup, and the Sussex Stakes at three.
“He was very special and I was very lucky to get him very early on in my time owning horses, it was just amazing,” said Smith. “I think at the time, I realised how lucky I was, but if I didn’t then, I certainly realise how lucky I was now.”