QIPCO BRITISH

CHAMPIONS FILLIES

& MARES STAKES

(GROUP 1)

AIDAN O’Brien drew level with Bobby Frankel on 25 Group and Grade 1 winners for a calendar year when Hydrangea, as fresh as paint following her near miss in the Prix de l’Opera, proved two lengths too good for French challenger Bateel in the mile and a half event confined to fillies and mares.

This was a splendid effort because Bateel, winner of the Prix Vermeille, is in her element on very soft ground. Whether she should have been as short as 7/4 favourite is open to question but she came with every chance after Ryan Moore had struck the front on Hydrangea with two furlongs to travel.

The older mare drew level but could never quite go on as Hydrangea, 4/1, took full advantage of the 6lb weight concession for three-year-olds and steadily drew clear. Coronet kept on willingly in the closing stages but never threatened the first two.

Hydrangea had caused a surprise when beating her stable-companion Winter in the Matron Stakes, another Group 1 contest. She is one of Galileo’s 70 individual winners at the highest level and has now shown herself to be fully effective at a mile and a half, having never previously won beyond a mile.

Not for the first time this season, stamina issues seem never to have crossed her brilliant trainer’s mind. He also continues to stress that matching his American counterpart’s record is essentially a team effort. “We’re a small link in a big chain and we’re so proud and delighted for everybody,” he remarked with typical modesty.

However, co-owner Derrick Smith was willing to add a little richly-deserved gloss.

“The man’s a genius and I can’t add anything that’s not been said before,” he said. “This is reward for everything he does and all the work he puts in. He’s just special, isn’t he?”

Criticism of Moore’s public persona has always seemed misplaced to some scribes because all he ever asks is that questions should be brief and, more importantly, relevant. He is not unapproachable, nor is he lacking in charm, as the photograph of his with his son Toby at Plumpton races on Monday shows clearly enough.

“This year’s been remarkable,” he said after Hydrangea’s victory. “She’s been on the go all year and has been getting better and better. I’m delighted for her and for Aidan.”