1-2 for O’Brien in Cheveley raid
O'Brien's filly took advantage as hot favourite Lady Aurelia failed to get home in front and left O'Brien's two fillies to fight out the finish
BRAVE Anna gave Aidan O'Brien a first victory in the Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes as American raider Lady Aurelia could only finish third in the Group One showpiece at Newmarket.
Wesley Ward's speed machine looked like landing the honours when she took her five rivals well into the final furlong, but Lady Aurelia emptied under Frankie Dettori in the last 50 yards.
That let in Brave Anna and her stablemate Roly Poly, and they finally reduced the deficit and reeled the 4-6 favourite in close home.
Seamie Heffernan drove Brave Anna (25-1) past the post a short head in front of Ryan Moore and Roly Poly. Frankel's daughter Queen Kindly was slightly disappointing in fourth.
O'Brien said: "She's a good, hardy filly and we were afraid the seven furlongs was a bit too much for her the last day, but you'd say, looking at her today, she'd get the seven OK.
"She had a good break after Ascot and maybe she got a little bit tired in the Moyglare at the Curragh, but she came home very well.
"The two fillies came home very well. I don't think any of them were wilting going to the line."
He went on: "Lady Aurelia is a very good filly and we knew she was going to make the running, so we knew we would have to lay up. That's the reality. The lads know the fillies and they work it out, really. We knew Lady Aurelia was going to be in front.
"Wesley's filly is very good and she went very fast and the wind out front probably didn't help her.
"Until they are past that line, you never really know what is going to happen.
"The two went together and kept going together. When Ryan got joined, it helped. The two of them came together, which was lovely, rather than one being left there. So we are delighted, really."
Heffernan, who picked up a four-day suspension for using his whip above the permitted level and without giving his mount time to respond, said: "Aidan had her there for today. The filly that made the running was top class, but Aidan just keeps that little bit for Group Ones.
"I thought I'd won."
Ward, meanwhile, could not hide his surprise at the defeat of Lady Aurelia.
He said: "She's very fast, but it's a game humbling with big disappointments. I had great expectations coming here. There were no excuses.
"She bounced out there and Frankie was bounding away in front, but when he called on her it just wasn't there the last bit.
"She's had a tough campaign. It's the first time I've tried to come over in the fall, but I'm not trying to make any excuses or take anything away from the two that beat us, especially the winner.
"But ours is a special filly and hopefully we'll get home and back in the right shape and come over next year for Ascot and the Commonwealth Cup or whatever it is.
"I expected her to win today. I laid it out there on everybody. She showed in Ascot that five furlongs is just right but I expected her to win today and I laid her out for this.
"It happens in horse racing and I felt that we were doing good and Frankie was doing everything right in training. Saying that I wish to take nothing away from the winner.
"You could make excuses like the wind and she was a bit too keen early and I would have liked to see her a bit more relaxed and at the end of the day, I probably regret that but I hope that you see her brilliance at Ascot and that could be it for this year."
