Greg Wood's report
A remarkable weekend for the global Godolphin racing and breeding operation concluded with a dominant win for Desert Flower, the even-money favourite, in the 1,000 Guineas. It completed a Classic hat-trick for the royal blue colours after victories for Ruling Court in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday and then Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, America’s most famous race, at Churchill Downs a few hours later.
Desert Flower’s win completed a rare double too for Charlie Appleby and William Buick, who are the first trainer-jockey combination to complete the Guineas double on Classic weekend since Aidan O’Brien and Kieren Fallon in 2005. Buick took charge from the off, sending Desert Flower to the front on the far side, and there she remained, seeing off a late challenge from Flight, a 28-1 outsider, to win by a length with her main market rival, the previously unbeaten Lake Victoria, only sixth.
From one season to the next, Appleby’s strike rate is reliably above 25%, making him one of the most consistently successful trainers around. His form figures in the last four trainers’ championships, though, are 1-1-8-3, reflecting a slight shortage of reliable Group One performers, in the Classic generation in particular, to back up a title challenge in 2023 and 2024.
It is clearly a different story this time around, however, and the £311k prize for the Classic carried Appleby past seven figures for the season. His two Guineas winners, Ruling Court and Desert Flower, are now also second-favourite and favourite for the Derby and Oaks respectively. This was a first 1,000 Guineas win for Appleby to go with three victories in the 2,000 Guineas in the last four years.
“With the fillies, it’s not a page I often look at in the conditions book as we haven’t had many fillies,” Appleby said. “So, when people ask me is she the best filly we’ve had, she is by far, yes. The filly herself is the one who deserves the plaudits. She’s unbeaten and we came here with a lot of confidence as everyone knows, and she’s gone and delivered. It’s her day.”
Desert Flower is by a 2,000 Guineas winner, Night Of Thunder, and her dam did not win beyond nine furlongs, but she showed no sign at all of faltering in the closing stages despite being quite free early on. “I see no reason why she can’t potentially stretch up to the mile-and-a-half [in the Oaks],” Appleby said. “She does all her best work in the last furlong and she settles well. So, it’s just a nice conversation to have.”
DESERT FLOWER STILL UNBEATEN AFTER WINNING 1,000 GUINEAS
The first two Classics of the season are now in the book, and both Charlie Appleby and William Buick have a first win in the 1,000 Guineas to add to their already glittering career records thanks to a no-nonsense front-running display by the still-unbeaten Desert Flower.
She will surely head now for the Oaks at Epsom on 6 June, where Lake Victoria may once again be in opposition, and the next two weeks will see a series of trials for the Epsom Classics as contenders for both the Derby and the Oaks test their credentials.
It’s been an exciting and informative Classic weekend at Newmarket and attention now turns to Chester’s May festival next week, which opens on Wednesday with the Chester Vase and Cheshire Oaks.
For now, though, it’s time to sign off from the Rowley Mile, I hope you’ve enjoyed our live coverage from Newmarket.
