Fiesolana (Billy Lee) just holds Along Came Casey (Pat Smullen) in the Brownstown at Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
A half-sister to Grade 1 winning jumpers in France, Tidal Fury and Tidara Angel, Fiesolana is also a winner out there, at Saint-Cloud. However it's now hardly an exaggeration to view her as one of the stories of this campaign on the level in Ireland. She made it three wins from four starts since joining Willie McCreery, in the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse.
Adding to her gains from the Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown, Billy Lee was in the plate on this occasion. He soon had the Aussie Rules filly to the fore and bravely as the well-backed favourite, Along Came Casey tried, she couldn't bridge the gap and went under by a head.
There was a length and a quarter and a short head back to Snow Queen and the admirable Lily's Angel The first-time blinkered English raider, Sentaril ended up finishing in rear.
McCreery remarked: "She's just a no nonsense mare. She keeps doing it and that's probably another step up for her on ground she probably wouldn't overly like.
"Billy gave her a lovely ride and he said she was doing nothing in front but that when the other horse came to her she went on again." (AM & EM)
