My Highness earns 16-1 quote for 1,000 Guineas after turning away Fitzella in fine style

Hugo Palmer summed up what many observers might already have been thinking when pointing out that Fitzella might be the new favourite for the 1,000 Guineas had she won the Sumbe Prix du Calvados by three lengths, but for one small detail. 

The inconvenience concerned was the brilliant My Highness, who swept by Fitzella to score by a length and a quarter, with daylight back to the rest. 

Godolphin's homebred daughter of Ghaiyyath was two from three before the Group 2 test and travelled beautifully under Cristian Demuro, earning Andre Fabre a fourth success in the Calvados.

Godolphin managing director Hugh Anderson said: "I was extremely impressed. Andre said beforehand she needed to prove herself at this level. But she couldn't have been more impressive, she got a bit of cover and then just got home very easily.

"It's great for the stallion – I think it's his first Group 2 winner and we'd expect good things from this filly going forward. I'm sure a mile will be her optimal distance and I'm sure we'll be looking at the autumn and all those fabulous two-year-old races."

Fitzella was stepping up on her Group 3 win at Ascot over six furlongs and could be in for an exciting end to the season as well.

Palmer said: "She's run a massive race and it's always the 'what if' question when you're second. If Andre had decided against it this morning she would have won a Group 2 in devastatingly impressive fashion and she'd probably be favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas.

"But that's not what happened. Luckily the remarkable filly she finished second to is trained a thousand miles away from where my horse is trained and we might find it rather easier to avoid her than if she were with Karl Burke."

Palmer added: "Oisin said it was definitely a career-best and she's got options; she's in the Moyglare, she's in the Cheveley Park and the Rockfel, while the Breeders' Cup remains an option as well.

"We were going further clear of the third with every stride so she stayed really well, we were just beaten by a better filly. She's every chance of staying a mile, probably not this year though unless we go to the Breeders' Cup."

Double success

Double Major successfully defended his title in the Sumbe Prix KergorlayCredit: Scott Burton (racingpost.com/photos)

A crack at the Irish St Leger could be on the cards for Double Major after the he successfully defended his title in the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay under a finely judged ride from the front by Maxime Guyon. 

All four rivals queued up to take their shot at the dual Group 1 winner, but Double Major kept finding to land his first success of 2025 when holding off Goya Senora, Sevenna's Knight and Presage Nocturne by a trio of short necks. 

"I'm delighted because when he ran badly last time he turned out to be a sick horse, but today he was back to his best," said Christophe Ferland. "It would be historic if he could win a third straight Royal-Oak and that's my main objective. In terms of how we get there, I'm not sure, he could go to Ireland."

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