All eyes will be on the horse that gets bedtime stories during River Rock Casino Stakes at Hastings

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It takes a lot of horse to impress a race horse trainer, especially one as experienced as Pat Jarvis. However, there were plenty of open-mouthed handlers at Hastings two weeks ago when the Jarvis-trained three-year-old filly, Chi Chi Time, blazed to a 12-length win on her racing debut.

In the process, Chi Chi grazed a track record that has stood for almost 30 years and there’s much anticipation ahead of this weekend, when she faces four rivals (including stablemate Zenari) in the $40,000 River Rock Casino Stakes on just her second lifetime start.

“I knew we had a horse,” Jarvis said. “But I didn’t know how much horse. She did everything we asked her to do in the spring and seemed to do it easily. But she’s only had one start and now we have to see if she can back it up. We’re hopeful and I do think she’s still learning.”

That Chi Chi Time has made the races at all is testament to the patience and care shown by Jarvis, her assistant Russell Greene, the rest of her dedicated team and, especially, the flying filly’s regular work rider and jockey, Kuri Powell.

“Kuri’s done an amazing job with her,” Jarvis admitted. “We’ve had other riders on her and they didn’t get along with her at all. Kuri really gets along with her and spends a lot of time with her.”

Powell, a respected exercise rider and jockey with 22 wins to his name, has worked particularly hard on gaining Chi Chi’s trust after a knack of getting herself into scrapes as a gawky youngster resulted in a couple of nerve-shredding accidents.

Powell, a graduate of the racing school in his native Jamaica, said: “When I first started getting on her, she never trusted anybody. When I saw that I said, ‘OK,’ and I told Pat that we have to be patient and get her to trust us. We had to convince her that nothing’s going to hurt her when she’s out there.”

Kuri stayed close to Chi Chi throughout the winter, riding her in the mornings, feeding her with the other horses throughout the day and checking in with her last thing at night. Chi Chi’s ever-present companion has even been known to read to her in the evenings and, according to Powell, she seems to enjoy her impromptu bedtime stories.

He said: “Yes, I read her whatever I’m reading at that time. She seems to enjoy it because, when I finish and start to leave, it’s like she’s trying to hold me hostage!”

In an embarrassment of riches, Jarvis also saddles Zenari (whose stable name is Pooh) in the River Rock Stakes. Zenari earned her ticket to join Chi Chi Time following an impressive near 10-length maiden win of her own on her sixth career start.

“We were thrilled when Pooh ran so well to win her maiden, Jarvis said. “But perhaps it made Chi Chi jealous because, just a week later, she was like, ‘hold my beer!’”

Powell was also aboard Zenari that day and was left with a tough choice ahead of this weekend. However, while he refused to be drawn on which filly is the best, he has chosen to stick with Chi Chi Time. Hopefully, both horse and rider have read the script.

Hastings race selections

First race Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Hastings Race 4 (4:09 p.m.): Chi Chi Time made a huge impression on her debut and much anticipation surrounds her second outing in one of Saturday’s two $40,000 Stakes races.

Hastings Race 5 (4:41 p.m.): Autobahn Ace created a very favourable impression on his recent debut and should represent value against last season’s leading juvenile, Mount Doom, in the day’s second $40,000 Stakes event.