The
Group I Newmarket 2,000 Guineas on Saturday produced an expected winner with
success for Coolmore's royally bred Deep Impact colt Saxon Warrior, but the
fillies equivalent overnight gave us a winner from left field with 66-1 shot
Billesdon Brook blowing her more fancied rivals right out of the water.
Trained by Richard Hannon, the daughter of Danehill stallion Champs Elysee did
plenty of racing last season posting eight starts at two for three wins including
a Black Type victory in the Group III Goodwood Prestige Stakes.
Fourth in her seasonal return in the Group III Newmarket Nell Gwyn Stakes,
Billesdon Brook took a quantum leap forward in this tougher assignment.
She travelled smoothly on the fast ground and ran the mile right out to win by
a length and three-quarters over Siyouni
filly Laurens with the favourite Happily (Galileo) in third place.
"All of our Guineas winners have needed their first run, we got Sky Lantern
beaten in her trial and Night Thunder beaten in his, and they both won here.
Today Billesdon Brook looked great, she's done no work really between the Nell
Gwyn and here but she's obviously a really good filly," said Richard Hannon.
Billesdon Brook was bred by the late Bob McCreery, a former champion amateur
rider, breeder of Classic winners High Top and Old Vic and an influential
industry figure, at his Stowell Hill Stud.
She is raced by McCreery's widow Jeanette in partnership with friends and
associates under the guise of Pall Mall Partners.
Billesdon Brook is a half-sister to stakes-winner Billesdon Bess and is from
Coplow, a placed daughter of Manduro, who comes from the family of Champion
German Filly Anna Paola.
Anna Paola is the grand-dam of Darley's celebrated producer Accessories (GB),
who has left four Australian Group winners in Helmet, Epaulette, Pearls and
Bullbars.