RACING/Newmarket report: Mark Brisbourne's Milly Waters produced a rags-to-riches story, winning the £100,000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.
The 33 to 1 chance was bought for a knockdown 800 guineas at the sales by Bury St Edmunds-based owner-breeder John Oldknow and was the cheapest horse in the field, but yesterday repaid the investment many times over by beating Ticker Tape to the finish by a length and a half.
Brisbourne, who has a string of 60 at his Baschuch base, had earlier recorded his half century of second placings this season when Merdiff finished as runner-up at Southwell.
But he admitted: "This more than makes up for it. I am so pleased, because I didn't think she would win. We were hoping for some pin money, because the prize money went down to 10 places. But this is the biggest win of my career
"I was standing by the line and I still thought we were beaten a head. She will stay in training next year and I hope she'll improve."
Enjoying his best season ever with 44 winners on the Flat and four more over jumps, Brisbourne added: "We've had a great season. This is by far our biggest winner so far. I am just so grateful to win a race like this."
Al Ihtithar gave owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum a one-two in the Listed Lanwades Stud Severals Stakes.
Despite the unfavourable fast ground, Barry Hills allowed the Barathea filly (20 to 1) to take her chance and the Willie Supple-ridden second-string edged the more fancied Tadris (13 to 2), trained by Marcus Tregoning and ridden by Hills's son, Richard, by a head, though Supple later picked up a two-day ban for careless riding.
Frizzante has been a model of consistency this term for James Fanshawe and Jamie Spencer put in a supremely confident and well-timed ride to land the Listed EBF Christo Philipson Boadicea Fillies' Stakes. The 11 to 10 favourite handled the step up in class well and just got the better of 50 to 1 chance Goldiva and Fanny's Fancy in a tight finish.
Jockey Richard Hughes was in double form as Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms operation continued their tremendous run.
Hughes carried Abdullah's famous pink, green and white colours to victory in the first two races with Phantom Wind, who won the six-furlong National Stud EBF Maiden for John Gosden, and the 12-furlong Showcase Handicap with Dawn Invasion for Amanda Perrett, to complete a 67 to 1 brace.
Pat Eddery was at his brilliant best as he came with a stunning late surge to get Top Spec (12 to 1) up on the line and nail 5 to 2 favourite Sanbonah in the NGK Spark Plugs Nursery Handicap Stakes for Richard Hannon.
In another thrilling finish, the TBA Rated Handicap Stakes went to Robert Winston, who brought 10 to 1 shot Smart Predator home to beat 6 to 1 co-favourite Caribbean Coral by a short head, with Fruit Of Glory a similar margin back in third.
