'I dreamt of having a winner at Bath two years ago, let alone the Guineas'

Many trainers have to wait an eternity for the glorious breakthrough in the British Classics but George Boughey needed less than three years to reach Flat racing's summit.

Mystery Angel gave him a first win at Listed level on this day 12 months ago and a year on the trainer was celebrating another major milestone thanks to a brave performance in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas from 16-1 chance Cachet.

Boughey officially joined the training ranks in July 2019, following a stint as Hugo Palmer's assistant, and within a month he had registered a first winner with Three C's at Lingfield. Since then, he has emerged into one of the country's leading young trainers progressing his seasonal total from 26 winners in 2020 to 85 last year.

Number 25 this campaign was the sweetest yet. Highclere Thoroughbred's daughter of Aclaim was busily campaigned in her juvenile season, running eight times, but Boughey, 30, had her primed to deliver a first domestic Group win in the Nell Gwyn last month and she was right again for the big day.

Cachet: surprise winner of the 1,000 GuineasCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"It’s just bizarre, I dreamt of having a winner at Bath two years ago, let alone the Guineas," he reflected. "That’s no disrespect to Bath at all which has been a great track to me but it’s all come very quick.

"I’ve built an amazing team around me, there’s too many people to name now but I’ve got some fantastic staff and it makes my job a lot easier. It’s pretty surreal.

"I absolutely didn’t think I’d be here so soon, we had four horses two years ago and the highest rated was 62 so to have a filly like her and several others is amazing and to do it for Highclere is brilliant.

"They’ve got a bunch of horses with me now [six] and it’s just massive to pay them back so it’s a huge day and very special."

Doyle, enjoying a marvellous weekend with victories in both Guineas, was keen to praise the trainer, for whom he was riding an eighth winner.

He said: "A special thank you to George – obviously he has a young, growing team but he’s doing amazing things and I think he’s a name we’ll be hearing a lot about in the future."

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