Fiesolana with jockey Bill Lee and trainer Willie McCreery© Photo Healy Racing
Fiesolana supplied trainer Willie McCreery and jockey Bill Lee with Group 1 glory at Leopardstown today, winning a memorable renewal of the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes.
Lee, whose previous career highlight came in Brittania Stakes at Royal Ascot, had to bide his time behind horses in the home straight but eventually found his way to the front, eventually staying on well for a half length win over Rizeena
The win was also a first at the top level for McCreery, who took over the care of Fiesolana in early 2013, having previously been trained in France.
McCreery, who himself performed on a big stage in the 1998 football All-Ireland with the unsuccessful Kildare team, was emotional following the win and later said “I'm over-come!What a horse and what a ride. I thought she wasn't going to get there but she did. Billy was as cool as a cucumber and never panicked.
“Billy was brilliant on her - they went a sensible pace and she got into a bit of trouble but it probably came at the right time. Billy is a cool rider and I said to him I'd rather he was beat than come too early.
“You dream of this and it was a huge compliment that the Niarchos family (Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd) had the faith to send her back to me after spending 1.2 million on her and I'm glad I could repay them.
“I can't believe it and it's great for her and for me. Patrick Cooper said to Alan to keep her in training this season as she'd win a Group 1 but at the start of the year she had an infection and we didn't know if we would get her back.
“She's a big solid type, is hard to get fit but is still improving; she'll go for the Prix de la Foret now.”
The win was also appropriate for the Niarchos family, whose Duntle finished first past the post in the 2012 renewal only to lose the race in the Stewards' room.
Quotes from Gary Carson
