'It's exciting for us' - Flotus returns to training after uncertain spell

The immediate future of last year's Cheveley Park runner-up Flotus, who was knocked down to a Japanese buyer for a handsome
one million guineas at the Tattersalls December Sales, has become clearer after she was returned into training with Simon and Ed Crisford.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner became hot property at the sales, where she went under the hammer to dissolve a partnership, after chasing home Tenebrism in the Group 1 at Newmarket in September but new owner Katsumi Yoshida was initially undecided as to whether to retire the filly or race on.

Prior to her excellent second on the Rowley Mile for the Crisfords, Flotus had won two of her five starts including the Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon.

Flotus (left) chases home Tenebrism in last season's Cheveley ParkCredit: Mark Cranham

Flotus was ranked the fourth best juvenile filly in Europe according to the classifications for last year and more recently was handed the Two-Year-Old Filly of the Year award at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeding Association National Breeding & Racing Awards for 2021.

A general 33-1 chance for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, Flotus will also have entries in the French and Irish equivalents.

Joint-trainer Simon Crisford said: "We've made three entries for the 1,000 Guineas and I'm pleased to say Flotus is one of them. Mr Yoshida bought Flotus at the sales and she stays in training but ultimately she'll be exported to Japan."

Like many at Gainsborough Stables, Flotus has benefited from a relatively mild winter in East Anglia.

Crisford added said: "Flotus has done very well physically over the winter and has options to start back over six and seven furlongs in the second half of April.

"There are several races for her at this time including at Newmarket, Newbury, Ascot or Chelmsford, and towards the end of March we'll be making plans with Mr Yoshida and his representatives. Whatever happens, it's exciting for us at Gainsborough that she's still on the team."

Yoshida has bought in Britain previously, notably when purchasing The Mackem Bullet privately before she finished second to Fairyland in the Cheveley Park in 2018.

Then trained by Brian Ellison, The Mackem Bullet went on to finish sixth at the Breeders' Cup before joining Wesley Ward as a three-year-old.

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