2012 Fillies' Mile

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Chriselliam Causes Shadwell Fillies' Mile Upset
27/09/13

1 Chriselliam 28/1
2 Rizeena 7/4F
3 Ihtimal 5/2
8 ran Distances: 1l, 2l, 1¼l
TIME 1m 40.00s (slow by 4.70s)

Co-owner Willie Carson was dancing a jig in the winners' enclosure as Chriselliam caused a major upset by clinching Group One glory in the Shadwell Fillies' Mile at Newmarket on Friday.

Chriselliam
©

The Charlie Hills-trained juvenile lined up having won just one of her previous four starts and although she had gone close to winning a Haydock Listed prize earlier this month, she was a 28-1 shot as she took a huge step up in class.

The mile contest developed into a sprint with two furlongs to run and Rizeena, the only previous Group One winner in the field, came through the pack to strike the front under James Doyle, but Chriselliam came from even further back and was ultimately well on top as she passed the post a length to the good in the hands of Richard Hughes.

Ihtimal was aiming to give Godolphin a third successive Fillies' Mile triumph following her victory in Doncaster's May Hill Stakes, but having also been ridden patiently, she was unable to go with the front pair and was a further two lengths away in third.

Winning co-owner Willie Carson said: "It wasn't a surprise. Charlie has always felt she was a good filly and while she's never worked with (Royal Ascot winner) Kiyoshi, he has always said she's as good as her.

"She went to Deauville and we were so disappointed, we didn't know what happened there. Hughesie did a great job today - he slightly disobeyed orders and was further back than I told him, and obviously I'll give him a pat on the back for that!"

Hills added: "We'll see how she comes out of the race. We'll have a look at the Breeders' Cup, but otherwise we'll prepare her for the Classics next season. She's got plenty of size and scope."

Hughes said: "I knew she had a sneaky chance, because I beat her last time and I got a little bit lucky. Willie Carson said to me in the ring we didn't know what happened in Deauville but maybe it was because she had daylight all the way, but they weren't sure.

"It was a little bit stop-start and it took me a little while to get cover the first few hundred yards, but once I got the cover I got a great rhythm on her and I knew I was going to win from halfway. She came down the hill really good, which is a huge plus for next May."

Trainer Clive Brittain did not make any excuses for the runner-up. He said: "She was beaten by a better horse on the day. Maybe a bit of ease in the ground would help, but it hasn't made the difference. We've come through and won the race, but then the other one has come past."

Shadwell Fillies' Mile (Group 1)
£183,300 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places