Desert Flower storms to 1,000 Guineas glory to complete phenomenal weekend for Godolphin

Desert Flower deployed her powerful stride to keep everything rosy in Godolphin's garden when giving Charlie Appleby and William Buick a first triumph in the Betfred 1,000 Guineas.

Just 24 hours after landing the colts' equivalent with Ruling Court, the Godolphin pair were back on the Rowley Mile winners' podium after the daughter of Night Of Thunder powered out of the Dip to down the Ollie Sangster-trained Flight to complete a remarkable weekend for Sheikh Mohammed's operation after victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The Guineas double was last done by a trainer when Aidan O'Brien won both in 2019 with Magna Grecia and Hermosa. More recently, jockey James Doyle scored in 2022 on Coroebus and Cachet.

First to post, Desert Flower was equally quick out of the stalls and made the running in the far-side group, while Flight was one of three who stayed close to the stands' side.

Always on the front end, Desert Flower was in command of her posse until Flight briefly came level with her at the furlong pole. But from then on she found further traction in the Dip to come away again to score by a length from Flight, with Simmering, also trained by Sangster, the same margin back in third.

Appleby said of the even-money winner: "Watching it, you'd have said we had a battle on our hands, but I knew as soon as she hit the rising ground she'd find another gear. She trains on a hill at home, so hills don't worry her.

"We saw it in the Fillies' Mile and the May Hill that she just goes through those gears, and at one point she looks a bit sticky, particularly on this quicker ground. I said to Will to just get her into a rhythm as we didn't want to be putting her on her head running into the Dip, as that is when they can stumble a bit and struggle to find their feet."

As for ticking off another Classic from the bucket list, Appleby said: "It's been amazing. It took us long enough to win a Guineas with the colts and people have been asking where the fillies were, but we've found one now and she's the best we've had. I see no reason why she can't step up in trip."

Charlie Appleby: "It's been an amazing weekend for Godolphin. I'm in an incredibly lucky position"Credit: Edward Whitaker

The only British Classic to evade Appleby and Buick is the Betfred Oaks, for which Desert Flower, the first unbeaten filly to win the 1,000 Guineas since Attraction in 2004, was generally cut to 5-2 (from 7-1).

Appleby, who had a treble on the card and saw 14 of his 16 runners at the Guineas meeting finish in the first three, said: "It's been an amazing weekend for Godolphin. I'm in an incredibly lucky position. Outside the team there's a huge amount of pressure, but for me it's enjoyable and to be able to speak to His Highness [Sheikh Mohammed] every day is incredible.

"It's not just what we've achieved here, but what we've achieved over in America. I said thanks to the team in the US this morning as they'd tightened the screws a bit as I'm usually laid-back."

Appleby added: "The filly is the one who has earned the plaudits. She's unbeaten and we came here with a lot of confidence, as everyone knows, and she's gone and delivered. She ran through the line."

William Buick gives the 1,000 Guineas trophy a kissCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The day was extra special for Buick, as he was joined on the winner's podium by sons Thomas and Oscar, wife Jane, father Walter and mother Maria.

He said: "I knew we might have to make our own running with a small field, but she delivered again, as she did in the Fillies' Mile. She gave me a good feel when I rode her in a gallop at the Craven meeting, and Charlie and the team had her in top shape. She's incredible. She's all class.

"It means the world to me to celebrate with family and friends here. It's what it's all about and makes it extra special. For them to be there to pick up the trophy with me is a memory for life."

Winning groom Paul Harrison got out of racing a few years ago to become a delivery driver, but had a change of heart and now has a Classic winner on his hands.

He said: "She's an incredible filly. I joined Charlie as a yard man a few years ago after spending 40 years in racing and I can't quite believe it."

William Buick celebrates after winning the 1,000 Guineas on Desert FlowerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

1,000 Guineas tipster’s view: Desert Flower win never in doubt but don’t rush to back her for the Oaks

By Harry Wilson

Charlie Appleby was rather bullish about the chances of Desert Flower in the build up to the 1,000 Guineas, and her victory didn’t look in doubt at any point in the contest.

William Buick set even fractions from the stalls and was able to maintain that gallop while all of the rivals on his side came off the bridle with two furlongs to run as they failed to lay up with the winner.

Desert Flower kept on well to the line, just as she did when landing the Fillies’ Mile last year, and confirmed the form with runner-up Flight, who finished third behind the winner in the May Hill in September.

Desert Flower (William Buick) wins the 1000 Guineas

Desert Flower could head to Epsom nextCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

It is no surprise to hear connections mention the Oaks as a possible target, given the way she saw out the mile as a juvenile, but there isn’t a great deal in her pedigree to suggest she will stay a mile and a half, which would put me off taking 5-2 about her for next month’s Classic.

Flight can probably have her performance marked up slightly, having had to make her effort down the centre of the track and then drifting across looking for company, but I’d be surprised if she was able to reverse form with the winner if they met again.

Elwateen (fourth) and Chantilly Lace (fifth) travelled well for a long way but showed their inexperience when asked for an effort. The former will be worth noting when sent over further, while the latter would have probably found this surface lively enough and will improve for the run.

Betfred Oaks latest betting

Betfred: 3 Desert Flower, 8 Falakeyah, 12 Lake Victoria, 16 Alobayyah, Ballet Slippers, Dreamy, Giselle 20 Falling Snow, Minnie Hauk, Smoken, Wemighttakedlongway, 25 bar

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