Billesdon Brook Resurgent In the Sun Chariot

[Wandering Eyes]

She had been 66-1 when winning the G1 1000 Guineas on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile last May and the ever-underestimated Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) came back to the Heath as underdog again on Saturday before capturing Saturday’s G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. with a degree of authority. Serving notice that she retained much of her ability when successful over seven furlongs in Goodwood’s G3 Oak Tree S. last time Aug. 2, the Stowell Hill homebred was inexplicably 16-1 this time and after being buried early by Sean Levey swooped on Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) inside the final 150 yards en route to a 1 1/2-length win, with Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) a half length away in third. “She’s a very special filly in the yard and she never looked like getting beaten today,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “She looks great and I thought she would run very well. The staff at the yard have done a great job and this looked a really hot renewal. I don’t know if she’ll stay in training but if you keep Classic winners in training it’s what racing needs.”

Having beaten Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) without any hint of fluke in the 2018 Guineas, Billesdon Brook was fourth in the G1 Coronation S. the following month and in the G1 Nassau S. trying 10 furlongs at Goodwood in August before signing off with a fifth placing in this. Third in the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. on her return at this venue May 5, the chestnut was ninth in Newbury’s G1 Lockinge S. May 18 before rebounding with a confidence-restoring success in Chelmsford’s Listed Queen Charlotte Fillies’ S. dropping back to seven furlongs June 19. Reverting to a mile in the Listed Pipalong S. at Pontefract July 9, she was only second best there before her storming late effort in the Oak Tree confirmed she was firmly back on track.

Content to track against the fence as Laurens was pressured by Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in front, Billesdon Brook had dead aim on the smooth-travelling Veracious as that Cheveley Park homebred pounced on John Dance’s filly. No sooner had she dealt with the leader than the Stoute trainee had the Hannon runner on her case and she had no answer to her superior power on the climb to the line.

Billesdon Brook is a half to the listed-winning Billesdon Bess (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}), who sold for 800,000gns to Erdenheim Farm at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in October. Her progeny include the G3 Prix d’Aumale winner Middle Club (GB) (Fantastic Light), the G3 Princess Elizabeth S., G3 Supreme S. and G3 Dick Poole S. scorer Anna Nerium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the latter’s G3 Horris Hill S.-winning full-brother Piping Rock (GB). The third dam is the G2 Preis der Diana-winning dual German champion Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}), whose multiple notable descendants feature the high-class Epaulette (Aus) and Helmet (Aus). Coplow’s 2-year-old filly Bruisa (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) was down the field on her first start for this stable last month, while she also has a colt foal by Anna Nerium and  Piping Rock’s sire Dubawi.

1–BILLESDON BROOK (GB), 129, f, 4, by Champs Elysees (GB)
1st Dam: Coplow (GB), by Manduro (Ger)
2nd Dam: Anna Oleanda (Ire), by Old Vic (GB)
3rd Dam: Anna Paola (Ger), by Prince Ippi (Ger)
O-Pall Mall Partners & Mrs R J McCreery; B-Stowell Hill Partners (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £151,345. Lifetime Record: 20-8-3-3, £847,585. *1/2 to Billesdon Bess (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}), SW-Eng.

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