Fawn the undisputed queen of Europe

If there was a prize for the training performance of the year, it would surely go to Aidan O'Brien for his handling of Peeping Fawn, heroine of the Nassau Stakes here yesterday. Oh yes, you will say, but it's easy to send out top-level winners when you have the endless resources of the world's best production line on which to draw.

Even by Ballydoyle's standards the progress of the three-year- old filly from her debut third at one of Ireland's lesser tracks to her position as undisputed queen of Europe has been remarkable, and owes everything to O'Brien's patience and judgement.

The point is that for one of her sex, the daughter of Dane-hill is huge, and still growing. Last year she was so massive, yet weak and gangly, that she did not make it to the track. When she did, on 1 April this year, she failed to win; it took her four goes to get off the mark, but equally proved she was no fool. Her trainer's faith has now been rewarded with three consecutive Group One prizes from his charge - after a third place in the Irish Guineas and second in the Oaks five days later, she added the Pretty Polly Stakes and Irish Oaks.

Peeping Fawn now tips the scales at 500kg and stands 16.2 hands. She must be judged to be somewhat inappropriately named, for there is nothing shy an delicate about her, and yesterday her heavyweight punch was far too much for the other Classic winners she left trailing in her wake. Four-year-old Mandesha was an unavailing length and a half adrift, with Oaks winner Light Shift third.

After taking the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on Peeping Fawn's stablemate Dylan Thomas, it was a second high-profile Saturday in a row for Johnny Murtagh, who was never far from the pace set by Speciosa and went to the front three furlongs out. "I had to ride her positively from her draw on the rail," he said, "because this is not a course to get boxed in on and I didn't want her to have a rough race.

"As soon as I eased her out, she took me, pulled me to the front, and I was probably in front a bit soon. But I didn't want to disappoint her so I let her stride on. She maybe idled a bit in the final furlong as she lost concentration from being on her own but as soon as I asked her again - I could hear the crowd roar and knew something was coming after me - she tried again."

It was the filly's first try against top opposition on really fast ground on a downhill course, and her choppy action as she cantered to post did not augur well. But if she went down like a square-wheeled bike, she came back like a purring Ferrari.

Her prowess has astounded even O'Brien, but hers is a talent that could never be forced, like a hothouse bloom. "She's very special," he said. "You rarely see a horse improve and improve like she has. Even when she was beaten in her first three runs she was getting better and learning each time, so we waited for her.

"She's getting bigger and stronger by the week, putting on weight even while she's been in full work; physically, she's almost a colt. And I think that by letting her mature in her own time and not pressurising her, she's kept her personality. She's kind and obliging." The world may now be an oyster for the bright bay filly, whose pretty head is topped by a pair of the oversized ears so often associated with equine generosity. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (and another meeting with Mandesha) is on the cards, as is the Filly & Mare Turf (and a fourth clash with Light Shift) at the Breeders' Cup. "All options are open," added O'Brien, "and there is a good possibility she'll be around next year."

The afternoon's sprint feature, the six-furlong downhill cavalry charge that is the Bluesquare Stewards' Cup,went tothe 6-1 favouriteZidane, who inched home under Jamie Spencer in thelast half- stride to denylast year's winner, Borderlescott (12-1), are double. The second market choice, Knot In Wood (7-1), was close up third. Ironically, Zidane emerged from the least wanted starting stall, No 11, which he earned by default after his trainer James Fanshawe inadvertently missed the pre-race selection process.

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