Ollie Sangster 'elated' with 1,000 Guineas two-three as 28-1 and 33-1 shots massively outrun their odds

Talk in the build up to the Betfred 1,000 Guineas might have been about the infallibility of Desert Flower, but trainer Ollie Sangster made sure to give Godolphin a fright.

Two furlongs out, Flight, a 28-1 outsider, narrowly led the fillies’ Classic in the smaller stands’ side group and appeared to be going better than Desert Flower. It was only on the climb out of the Dip up to the winning line that the favourite was able to reassert and take victory.

A length separated Desert Flower and Flight at the line, while a further length back in third was Simmering, the stablemate of the second who had also been sent off unconsidered at 33-1.

“I’m elated,” said Sangster, who is into his third season with a licence. “We’re all here to win, but it’s fantastic. There was a lot of confidence coming into this race behind the Godolphin filly – it was like she was unbeatable.”

Flight, sporting the colours of Nick Wheeler’s Cornthrop Bloodstock, had prepared for the 1,000 Guineas by galloping at Newmarket during the Craven meeting, while Simmering had blown out after being sent off joint-favourite in the Fred Darling Stakes for Al Shaqab Racing.

Ollie Sangster: “We were dealing with last year’s champions so we didn’t know where we stood with them, but we had faith in our fillies and you have to be delighted with what they’ve done"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Sangster said: “They were both big prices but I was happy with what I was seeing at home and I’m so pleased they had the chance to show that today.

“Everything had gone well since Newbury with Simmering – we just put a line through that race – and Flight had worked here during the Craven meeting and come on a good deal. 

“We were dealing with last year’s champions so we didn’t know where we stood with them, but we had faith in our fillies and you have to be delighted with what they’ve done.”

While Sangster planned to let the dust settle before selecting future targets for his Classic-placed pair, Saeed bin Suroor is already eyeing Epsom and the Betfred Oaks with fourth-placed Elwateen.

Bin Suroor said: “She needs further distance and she could be maybe one for the Oaks. That is an option for her. She will have to have a little bit of a break as the Musidora is too close.

“She works all the time with Tornado Alert in the mornings and she has shown her class every time she has worked and that is why we have run her in a Classic today. The further she goes the better she will be.”

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