Something's got to give in battle of Guineas winning fillies at Royal Ascot

After shocking their respective countries, the surprise winners of the English, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas clash at Royal Ascot and something’s got to give, writes James Toney.

Billesdon Brook, Alpha Centauri and Teppal all lowered the colours of more fancied rivals to win at Newmarket, the Curragh and Longchamp respectively.

And one pound invested on those selections would have returned you nearly five figures, with combined odds of 9,504-1.

Billesdon Brook’s storming win in the 1000 Guineas made her the longest-priced runner to land the fillies classic in 210 years.

The 60-1 shot beat a five-strong challenge from Aidan O’Brien to land the prize, with even trainer Richard Hannon admitting: “I didn’t see that coming.”

The manner of the victory was certainly eye-catching, nine back with three furlongs to go, she hit the accelerator to cruise through the field in a matter of strides.

And Hannon didn’t even have an entry for today’s Coronation Stakes, part of the Qipco British Champions Series – a decision connections quickly corrected with their £350,000 prize money.

“Having the three Guineas winners in there is exciting but the English Guineas is always the best form race for the rest of the season in my opinion and that’s the one we won,” said Sean Levey, who piloted Billesdon Brook to victory to become the first black jockey to win an English classic.

“She’s 100 percent, she’s fit and she looks great. She’s always been a sound, straightforward filly. There have been no hiccups since the Guineas.”

Alpha Centauri’s 12-1 win at the Curragh gave National Hunt trainer Jessica Harrington her biggest flat victory and she’s cautiously optimistic.

“She’s a big filly and she’s going to love the ground,” she said.

Stage

Tepal went into the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches off the back of two wins on the all-weather last August and trainer David Simcock insists she will improve further on her biggest stage yet.

But it could be none of the above that rises to the top with Aidan O’Brien’s Clemmie taking them on.

She was a long-time favourite for the 1000 Guineas until an injury kept her at home but her first race of the season, a ninth place behind Alpha Centauri, hardly inspires confidence.

“She needed the run in the Guineas badly and she just got tired,” insisted O’Brien.

“She had a little bit of a setback at the start of the season and lost some fitness but she is coming back.”

The fascinating Coronation Stakes is preceded by another group one contest, the Commonwealth Cup.

Charlie Hills-trained Equilateral is the likely favourite in a wide-open renewal, with Invincible Army and Sioux Nation the key rivals.