Racing:Finsceal Beo turned around a disappointing week for Jim Bolger as she blitzed her field to earn Classic glory in the fastest-ever Stan James 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Not only did the Irish raider set a new record for fillies, she also smashed Mister Baileys 2000 Guineas time of 1994 with her two-and-a-half-length romp under Kevin Manning.
Bolger suffered heartache on Thursday when his ante-post favourite for the 2000 Guineas, Teofilo, was ruled out with injury but his winter favourite for the fillies' equivalent brought the smile back to his face.
Winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac and Rockfel Stakes as a juvenile, the daughter of Mr Greeley was a plunge on-course and sent off the heavily-backed 5-4 favourite.
Despite being awkward at the start, she bounced out of the stalls and raced prominently on the stands rail before being set alight by Manning inside the final two furlongs.
The response was immediate and she kicked clear to come home in splendid isolation, with only fellow Irish challenger Arch Swing able to give chase and losing nothing with her second-place finishing position.
John Oxx's charge was a length and a quarter clear of Simply Perfect, with the staying-on Treat a further length and a half back in fourth.
Bolger said: "I was not surprised at how easily she won as she is a brilliant filly. The traumatic week is history at this stage and this is the day.
"We have gotten over it (Teofilo's absence) and we are getting on with it. As I said before, viewed against the general level of suffering around the world, ours was minuscule."
Unlike with the colt, Bolger has had a dream run with Finsceal Beo, and continued: "We have had no problems whatsoever with her and we have had a smooth run all the way.
"It did appear for a week or 10 days in March that we hadn't got after her soon enough, but she responded to every bit of pressure we put on her and got herself fit. It has been plain sailing the last couple of weeks.
"The aim is definitely to run in the Irish Guineas now, and then we'll go to Royal Ascot for the Coronation and then step up to 10 furlongs in the Pretty Polly.
"The only little downside to her is that her action isn't as fluent as you would expect it to be and it doesn't match her ability."
Manning, who is Bolger's son-in-law and finished seventh in this race on the trainer's Pictavia in 2005, said: "There was never a bother. I was little bit closer than I wanted to be, but she was carrying me there. She's done that very easily.
"She would have won at any trip and I think she will come on for the run, so I am very pleased with her."
The filly's win was further British glory for her owner Michael Ryan after his top-class hurdler Al Eile scored in Grade One company at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
Ryan added: "This is absolutely fantastic, my first Classic. There are 36 of us who have come over from Ireland for this.
"Jim Bolger is a super trainer and always has been.This is a dream for me and it will take a long time to sink in.
"To win a Guineas and to win it so magnificently is very, very special. Her name means 'living legend' and that is what she is."
Arch Swing may have lost her unbeaten record but she delighted her trainer having race down the outside of the field.
Oxx said: "She got a little isolated on her own out there, but the winner was always going very well and we were never going to get to her.
"We are delighted and we will aim for the Irish Guineas. I suppose the winner will go there too and will be hard to beat."
Jeremy Noseda was delighted with the effort of Simply Perfect, who is a 12-1 chance with Totesport for the Vodafone Oaks.
The other layers were much more impressed with Coral, VC Bet and Ladbrokes offering 8-1 and Stan James just 7s.
Noseda said: "It was a good performance. We will have to have a chat now with the owners, but she will run in an Oaks - either the English or the French."
There was a sting in the tail for her rider Johnny Murtagh, who was banned for three days (May 17th, 18th and 20th) for careless riding.
Treat was also trimmed in ante-post lists and is 14-1 from 25s with VC Bet for Epsom.
Harry Herbert, racing manager for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, the owners of the Mick Channon-trained filly, said: "Jamie Spencer said that is her absolute minimum trip and we will now head for an Oaks.
"For her first run of the season that was quite something and she has tremendous improvement in front of her."