Elizabeth Browning stepped out of the shadow of her well known big brother Johannes Vermeer when franking the long-held opinion of champion trainer Aidan O’Brien at The Curragh in Ireland. The filly, co-bred by Coolmore and China Horse Club, came with a pulverising sprint under the handling of jockey Seamie Heffernan to come from last to first and race away with the G2 Kilboy Estate Stakes (1800m).
“We always thought that she had a lot of ability and she missed a lot of time. She is starting to get it together and her last few runs had been good,” O’Brien told the Racing Post after the event.
“It just goes to show you, she’s a Galileo filly at the end of the day. It’s a lovely race to win and I think Seamie gave her a fantastic ride. It’s just a great race for fillies at this time of the year as it fits in perfect.
“She liked the quick ground and I think she will stay a bit further. She came home very well.”
Elizabeth Browning settled at the back of the seven-strong field and only began moving into the race well inside the final 400m. At the 200m mark Heffernan made his move and inside the final 100m Elizabeth Browning surged clear to win by a widening length and three quarters.
The victory was the most significant of the filly’s career to date and ensured her future as a high value future broodmare. The daughter of world champion stallion is a full-sister to Johannes Vermeer who was victorious at the highest level as a two-year-old in the Criterium International in France.
O’Brien is yet to finalize a likely next target for Elizabeth Browning but he was clearly pleased by the finishing efforts of his charge and sees her as having the ability to extend her credentials over further.
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