Courtesy of Sporting Life
GHANAATI, the 1000 Guineas heroine, followed up in scintillating fashion by thundering clear in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in course record time.
The filly's trainer, Barry Hills, made a triumphant return to the big time earlier this year following treatment for throat cancer by scooping the Newmarket Classic with the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned superstar.
His stable were in red-hot form through the opening weeks of the campaign, but events took a turn for the worse after the veteran handler was admitted to hospital with a life-threatening blood disorder.
But having returned to good health, and on the day he was released from hospital, his sons Charlie and Richard combined to claim the feature race on day four of the Royal meeting in record-breaking time.
Charlie Hills has been tasked with running his father's Lambourn yard in his absence, and produced the filly looking immaculate as she clashed with French 1000 Guineas winner Elusive Wave and Again, who landed the Irish Guineas.
But the meeting of the nations turned into a one-sided contest once Richard Hills asked the 2-1 favourite to take charge two furlongs from the finish.
The market leader needed minimal assistance from the saddle to skip past the winning post two lengths clear of Reggane, with Rainbow View finishing to good effect in third.
GHANAATI joins Attraction (2004) and Russian Rhythm (2003) as recent fillies to complete the 1000 Guineas-Coronation double, with Hills' only other winner of the latter arriving courtesy of Maids Causeway four years ago.
Her jockey said: "There are only two women in my life - my wife (Jaci) and this filly.
"We nearly lost my dad but thank God we didn't, and what a way to cheer him up.
"I'm very pleased for my father as there was plenty of emotion going in, but she performed beautifully.
"Dad hasn't been very well and we just wanted to get this filly here right.
"There were a lot of people telling Charlie what he should and shouldn't do, but he has listened to the right people and prepared her beautifully.
"She's aptly named because in Arabic GHANAATI means 'My Love' and she's certainly that today.
"She's the best filly I've ridden without a doubt. My dad never lets me take the handbrake off her at home, and for a very good reason.
"I have watched the Coronation from a young age and to break the track record like that is an honour."
Charlie Hills, who will eventually take control at Faringdon Place, said: "She's so professional. She is a beautiful stamp of a filly and is just getting better and better.
"She's still relatively inexperienced and that is only her fourth run so hopefully she has the right attitude to improve again.
"I doubt very much that my father has ever had a filly as good as her, even after 40 years.
"It has been a fantastic opportunity to look after so many good horses over the last few weeks. Dad is on his way home today and I am sure he will have this recorded.
"There are some wonderful races to go for during the rest of the season. There is the Falmouth, Nassau and the Champion Stakes all to consider."