Ryan Hill climbs new heights as London’s Image does family proud for black-type win in Ascot’s Burgess Queen

London’s Image delivered a bombshell result in the Listed $125,000 TABtouch Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Tuesday, leading throughout to provide trainer Ryan Hill with an emotional black-type win. The $51 TABtouch outsider speared across from a high draw to whiz to the front and set a fearsome gallop, with Diamond Dancer ($9.50) the only horse who could remain within shouting distance. With 800m to go, London’s Image was more than three lengths ahead of her nearest pursuer, who in turn was the same margin ahead of the rest who jostled for positions. But jockey Victoria Corver had London’s Image in a serene rhythm and despite the brisk tempo, she cuddled the pacesetter into the 400m bend with Diamond Dancer closing up a half-length away and still four lengths to the pack. Under a composed ride, only at the 300m did Corver shake the reins at London’s Image and though Diamond Dancer was almost on equal terms, no others had been able to get involved in the frantic affair. Mindful of London’s Image’s tendency to veer outwards, it was only after contact between her and Diamond Dancer that Corver produced the whip at the 120m mark. Finally, those from off the pace were swooping but London’s Image showed heart as grand as herself to fend off Diamond Dancer and re-establish a clear lead. With Ron’s Finalflutter ($6) and Flower Of Gold ($4.40f) closing on either side, London’s Image showed immense fighting spirit to emerge victorious from a three-way thrust to the line. It was a watershed success for Corver and Hill, with the former landing her first black-type triumph in the saddle and the latter his first as a trainer. “She’s a very tough filly. Gee, she’s hard work. She’s a pain in the a..e, to be honest with you,” Hill said. “We had to scratch her last Saturday with a slight temperature, but Victoria was at the beach with me Sunday morning and a pony, so it’s taken a lot of work.” “We gave her a gallop on Tuesday and when Brad couldn’t ride, I said to Victoria you’re going to do the gallop. “I set the speed on a horse that won the Summer Scorcher last year. She sat five lengths off me and came flying past. “When she prelim’d today, I had to have another thousand dollars on . “I was just so confident. I said to Victoria working at the beach, she’s just been so happy the horse. “But I know what she can do, I know she can lug out late, and I’m just really happy with the horse’s effort. The filly, owned by Hill’s sister and named for Hill’s niece who celebrates a birthday on Wednesday, only came into their possession through happenstance. Having already invested heavily in yearlings, Hill only made the decision to attend the 2023 Adelaide Yearling Sale from which London’s Image was purchased because jockey and friend Chris Parnham was riding in South Australia for Dan Morton. It was Parnham’s insistence about the filly’s eye-catching constitution that eventually persuaded Hill to target the yearling, with the trainer deciding he would budget as much as a $100,000 outlay for the daughter of Headwater. However, Hill would strike a bargain, spending a mere $20,000 for the bay, who shot her earnings to near $170,000 with the success. London’s Image now emulates her mother New Image, who scored at Listed level in the Belmont Oaks and Matchmaker Classic.