THE only surprising aspect of Queens Brook’s victory in the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday was that it was her first in a blacktype race. It is an important addition to her CV, especially when she later on joins the broodmare band at Noel and Valerie Moran’s Bective Stud.

The seven-year-old daughter of Shirocco (Monsun) is from a family associated with the Rohan family at Ramhill in Midleton for a number of generations now. Bred by Richella and sold by Jerry Rohan as a foal for €16,500, Queens Brook was purchased by Derek Pugh, and she just about washed her face when resold at the Derby Sale two years later for €25,000.

Signed for in the name of Cobajay Stables, Queens Brook was saddled by Aidan Fitzgerald to win and place in her two point-to-point outings, leading her to another sales appearance, this time at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale in 2019.

Another Aidan, this time O’Ryan, and Gordon Elliott had to pay £160,000 for her this time around.

After a winning racecourse debut, Queens Brook was sent to Cheltenham for the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, and there she acquitted herself well and ran third behind Ferny Hollow and Appreciate It.

The pair that beat her have done well, with five Grade 1 between them. Queens Brook came close to winning a Grade 1 in March back at Prestbury Park, beaten just over a length in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.

In her 11 racecourse and two point-to-point runs, Queens Brook has never been out of the first three, with four wins to her credit.

She has kept herself in the best of company and it looks certain that her trainer will find winning opportunities in graded races for her, right up to Grade 1.

In addition to her solid race record, Queens Brook has a female line to match it. One of four winners out of the unraced Supreme Leader (Bustino) mare Awesome Miracle, she is a half-sister to Grade 3 chase winner Shotgun Paddy (Brian Boru). Awesome Miracle’s point-to-point winning half-sister Nothingtoloose (Luso) is the dam of another current racing star, Edwardstone (Kayf Tara).

Edwardstone

In the news at the weekend as controversy reigned over the ground conditions at Ascot, the Alan King-trained Edwardstone has truly blossomed over fences, and this year he won the Grade 1 Arkle Chase at Cheltenham before running second behind Gentleman De Mee in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

Awesome Miracle is a daughter of the chase and point-to-point winner Phairy Miracles (Phardante), and she had three winning siblings, the best of which, Patricknineteenth (Mister Lord), was trained by Paul Webber and looked something special when he won the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, but he only made it to the races eight times over the next four years.

Shirocco was a truly global racing star, winning Group/Grade 1 races in four countries, including the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

A multiple Group 1 sire on the flat, he can claim the same achievement with his jumpers, most famously with the brilliant Annie Power.

The question now is whether Queens Brook can join her at the top table?