Miss Alpilles comes good with surprise Rose Bowl result

Miss Alpilles stepped up markedly on all known form to spring a 20-1 surprise in the Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes at Newmarket.

A winner off a mark of 78 at Goodwood last month, the four-year-old was enterprisingly pitched into Listed company by trainer Ed Walker for what was also a first try at two miles.

It was a decision that ultimately reaped reward on the Rowley Mile, as John and Thady Gosden’s 13-8 favourite Palladium was pulled up by Billy Loughnane over five furlongs from home and Saeed bin Suroor’s fancied Live Your Dream tired quickly having made the early running.

In contrast to Oisin Murphy’s mount Live Your Dream, Miss Alpilles was ridden with patience by Kieran Shoemark and towards the rear of the field of seven.

She moved stylishly closer to the action as the expected protagonists began to wilt and after a brief battle with East India Dock inside the final furlong, readily pulled three and a half lengths clear of James Owen’s Chester Cup winner at the finish, signalling a possible continuation of her career.

Walker said: “I honestly loved this filly as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old. I thought she was going to be our Oaks filly, but she’s been nothing but horrifically disappointing.

“She finally won on soft ground at Haydock and we always thought she wanted soft ground after that until Kieran rode her on soft ground at Ffos Las and said she hated it.

“We ran her on fast ground at Goodwood and she bolted up and here we are today. It’s extraordinary.

“We came here trying to nick some black type and Kieran has given her a peach of a ride. He smuggled her into the race and she was never really getting beat.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so relaxed watching a race. I might have to keep her in training now – that was going to be the last run of her career!”