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Double for O'Brien after Homecoming Queen's shock win

Ryan Moore powers Homecoming Queen to victory in the 1000 Guineas © PA Photos

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Homecoming Queen destroyed the field to cruise to victory in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and hand trainer Aidan O'Brien a famous double.

After Camelot's thrilling win in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday, it was stablemate Homecoming Queen's turn to show what she could do and leave O'Brien taking the plaudits once more.

There was some sad news before the second Classic of the season got under way, with the fatally injured Gray Pearl, who had dropped to the ground in the stalls, seen taken away in the horse ambulance.

After a delay of around 30 minutes the race started and, to many commentators' suprise, Homecoming Queen immediately hit the front. The school of thought was that she was helping to set the gallop for her stablemate, and race favourite, Maybe.

However, Homecoming Queen, having her 14th start, only grew in strength as the race wore on, eventually pulling away to rout her rivals by nine lengths from Starscope, with Maybe only third.

After helping his mount record the second-largest winning margin in 1000 Guineas history, jockey Ryan Moore said: "Aidan said she was very fit and very well. I thought I was going a stride too quick, but she just kept going. There's not much of her, but she tries very hard. She's very tough."

O'Brien added: "She's a hardy, tough filly with a great pedigree. In the last couple of weeks she's gone into a different zone. When Seamus [Heffernan] won on her last year he said she could be very smart.

"Joseph won a Listed race on her at the Curragh and said she had a massive engine. We went to the Breeders' Cup with her after that but she was entitled to be tired there. She ran first time up at the Curragh, when she got a little bit tired, but won nicely at Leopardstown.

"It was an incredible performance and Joseph said she was the filly he was most worried about as she would be going off in front and it was Maybe's first run. I was delighted with Maybe, too."

Six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon used all his experience to guide Ithoughtitwasover home in the Qipco Supporting British Racing Stakes. The Mark Johnston-trained four-year-old appeared to be cruising until he veered markedly left, allowing the trio of Local Hero, Sandusky and Caucus the chance to close the gap, but he hung on for the win.

Izzi Top stayed on strongly up the hill for a one-and-a-quarter length victory over Captivator in the Qatar Bloodstock Dahlia Stakes. Giving away 3lbs to the rest of the field having claimed a Group Three triumph in France at the end of last season, Izzi Top positioned herself behind the early frontrunners, with William Buick then opening her up for a deserved success.

Joseph O'Brien left nothing on the track, snatching a late win aboard Maarek in the Qatar Racing Handicap. Shropshire and Colonel Mak looked to be well in charge entering the final furlong but Maarek found something extra in the tank on the near side to win by a neck from Shropshire.

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