RICHARD Hannon celebrated his 1,000th career winner after Anna Nerium came from last to first to go one place better than 12 months ago in the Gruoup 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom.

Having found only Awesometank too strong last time out, the Dubawi filly turned the tables on her most recent conqueror to claim the third pattern victory of her career in the extended mile prize.

Anchored at the rear of the field early on, the 9/2 shot swooped down the outside of her rivals before moving past eventual runner-up Awesometank inside the final furlong, going on to score by a length and a quarter.

Hannon said: “It is lovely to get the milestone in a significant race – 1,000 winners is a lot of winners. She is a very good filly and was unlucky in this last year.

“I’m delighted for Jeanette McCreery (owner), who has been a big supporter of ours, and the late Bob McCreery, as they bred Billesdon Brook. All my family are here as well. My dad (Richard Hannon senior) is not here, but he will be watching on television.

“You can’t belittle what he did, as he was a pioneer of those sort of numbers and I would like to think I could to get half as many as he did. He got to about 4,500.

“I thought when they went very quick, ‘lovely’, as she was very unlucky in this race last year. There is a perception she has to have soft ground to win, but she doesn’t need it. She can do it on this ground. I’m not sure she loved the track, but she dealt with it.

“We will sit and talk to Jeanette and see what she wants to do, but you would like to think she could go close in a Rothschild, where they might get soft ground. Ascot is not out of the question yet.”