Betfred 1000 Guineas |
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| Group 1, Newmarket 15:35 £525,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m, Class 1  |
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1 Desert Flower EvsF
2 Flight 28/1
3 Simmering 33/1
10 ran Distances: 1l, 1l, nk
Time: 1m 36.81s (slow by 0.71s)
ALL-THE-WAY!
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) May 4, 2025
Desert Flower takes the @Betfred 1000 Guineas in ASTONISHING style 🏇💨 pic.twitter.com/HINIYHygRH
Desert Flower kept her unbeaten record intact with a commanding win, capping a remarkable Classic double for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin on a weekend that also delivered American riches.
Just 24 hours after Ruling Court claimed the 2000 Guineas, the chestnut filly justified even-money favouritism under William Buick, who was chasing his first win in this race. Always travelling sweetly in the group down the far rail, Buick sent her to the front before the dip, and from there she never looked back.
Flight, trained by Ollie Sangster, tried to throw down a challenge late on, momentarily edging closer. But once Desert Flower met the rising ground, she found again — surging ahead to win by a length, with Sangster’s Simmering plugging on for third.
“She’s the one who deserves the praise today,” Appleby said. “We were confident coming here — she’d shown us all the right signs. And when it mattered, she delivered.”
It capped a stellar three-day run for Godolphin, with Sovereignty adding the Kentucky Derby to Friday’s Oaks success for Good Cheer — a global hat-trick few could match.
“The Derby’s been on the bucket list for over 30 years,” Appleby continued. “To tick that off and then back it up here — it’s a testament to the vision and relentless passion of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.”
Despite a brief scare when Flight loomed upsides, Appleby remained calm: “We saw it in the Fillies’ Mile and May Hill — she has those gears. At Newmarket, especially on faster ground, you just need to ride the track. That rhythm into the dip is everything.”
Buick, all smiles post-race, echoed the sentiment. “It’s a dream to win both Guineas — and on a weekend like this? It’s special,” he said. “She’s so straightforward, does everything you ask. She hits the rising ground and just powers through it — pure class.”
Attention now turns to Epsom, where Desert Flower is the early favourite for the Oaks. Appleby, cautiously optimistic, added: “I see no reason she won’t stay a mile and a half. She does her best work late and settles beautifully. We’ll let the dust settle, but that looks the logical next step.”
Betfred 1000 Guineas Stakes
(British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£525,000 guaranteed,
10 ran
Going: Good to Firm
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1) Desert Flower 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick EvsF
2 (10) 1 Flight 3 9-2 Ollie Sangster Oisin Murphy 28/1
3 (2) 1 Simmering 3 9-2 Ollie Sangster Dylan Browne McMonagle 33/1
4 (3) nk Elwateen 3 9-2 Saeed bin Suroor Jim Crowley 22/1
5 (5) shd Chantilly Lace 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 25/1
6 (7) shd Lake Victoria 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 9/4
7 (9) nk Red Letter 3 9-2 G M Lyons Colin Keane 15/2
8 (4) 2½ Hey Boo 3 9-2 Jack Channon George Bass 50/1
9 (6) 6½ Duty First 3 9-2 Archie Watson Hollie Doyle 22/1
10 (8) 25 Remaat 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Jason Watson 125/1
