Breton Rock came fast and very late to mow down his rivals and land the G2 Qatar Lennox Stakes at 50/1 for trainer David Simcock and owner John Cook.

 

Jockey Andrea Atzeni, completing a 139/1 double initiated in the previous race on Expert Eye, overcame an outside draw by sitting in behind his rivals and then asking Breton Rock to accelerate wide in the final furlong. The response was electric as the horse went from first to last, finishing with such power that he won by half a length and a short-head from Home Of The Brave and Suedois.

 

The winning trainer said: "He's won two Group Twos previously, but God, did we expect that? No we didn't!

 

"Last year he won the Criterion Stakes and Park Stakes, so he's very useful, but we've looked after him and never run him on ground with the word 'firm' in the going description. He's a favourite at home and the lad who looks after him, Irkin, absolutely worships him. He had a little daughter the other day and he will come back in with the biggest smile on his face.

 

"It's brilliant for John Cook, who was my very first owner 13 years ago. He buys a yearling every year, and he bought Breton Rock for £20,000 and has gained so much fun from the horse. This horse has given John, and the yard, so much pleasure, and has taken us to some wonderful meetings over the years. He doesn't let us down."

 

Cook, who lives in Wellingborough, and visits Simcock's Newmarket yard once a month to see his horses, said: "He races when he wants to. That was so exciting - I was watching the finish thinking he's coming, he's coming - then YES! 

 

"When you own a horse that cost £20,000, and you take on the big boys and win it's some achievement. 

 

"I've owned this one since he was a yearling - I picked him out in the Doncaster sales catalogue, but expected him to make £60,000. Then Jenny [Simcock's wife] rang me and said David and [bloodstock agent Richard Brown] had bought him for £20,000 and I said 'He's mine'. It's a fairytale. My grandson is called Brett, and he lives in Brittany, so is a Breton, and the horse is out of a Rock Of Gibraltar mare, hence the name.

 

"My latest two-year-old is called Imperial Court by Zoffany. I don't think he will run this year, but the trainer might tell you differently."