Silvestre de Sousa back in the big time as Elmalka gives him a first British Classic success in the 1,000 Guineas

Elmalka gave Silvestre de Sousa a landmark first British Classic win with a Qipco 1,000 Guineas success that marked a major change of fortune for the former champion jockey.

The pulsating victory was a third Classic win for Roger Varian but a first at his local track, a success that was made even sweeter by the fact the winner was out of Nahrain, a filly who first got the trainer on the Group 1 board in 2011. 

Sat well off a decent pace set by outsider Star Style and sole French challenger Ramatuelle, the daughter of Kingman looked booked for third at best when Ramatuelle went clear heading into the Dip only for the situation to change dramatically when the petrol gauge on the leader went into the red zone.

In the end, Elmalka prevailed by a neck from fellow fast finisher Porta Fortuna, with Ramatuelle a short head away in third.

De Sousa returned to action only in March after his spell in Hong Kong ended with him serving a ten-month ban for breaching betting rules. But he has been a familiar sight in the Varian ranks since and made the most of his call-up for the ride when it was known the trainer's number one James Doyle would be riding for his retainers Wathnan Racing in France.

He said: "It's amazing and I'm on the moon. Elmalka is not very big, but she has a big heart and Roger told me to ride her with confidence. She's a tough filly and lengthens very well, and when I hit the rising ground she really hit her stride. They went off quick enough but when she got organised she really got into it."

Elmalka (right): got the better of Porta Fortuna and RamatuelleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The three-time champion jockey added: "I've never come close to winning a Classic before, so this is special, and thanks to Roger and the team. When I first came back Roger asked me to come in and ride out for him and I've ridden some nice horses. I only knew I was riding this filly last week as she is Doyler's [James Doyle's] ride really but he had to go to France so I was lucky to sit on her."

For Varian, the victory was at the other end of the stamina scale from his two wins in the St Leger, most recently with Eldar Eldarov in 2022.

He said: "It's a huge thrill that hasn't sunk in yet. You don't come into these races expecting that you may win but she ran a great race at Newbury [third in the Fred Darling Stakes] and all credit to James Doyle, who gave her a great ride that day. 

"He got an education into her there and she finished strong. We weren't on the 1,000 Guineas trail but after that there was such a turnaround in the filly in the past fortnight that it made sense. I was in two minds whether to run her but I wanted to do right by the filly and we decided to give it a go.

"I didn't think she was handling the track early on but then I thought she could come into it. In the Dip I thought we would run into a place and in the last 100 yards I thought we'd get there. It was incredible. I upgraded her performance at Newbury as ours were needing the run then. I knew she would be suited by a mile. What it tells you is on the all-weather through the winter you can run into anything."

Silvestre de Sousa and Roger Varian after Elmalka's win in the 1,000 Guineas at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "It's special to win a Classic for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, who has supported me all my career and Michael Jarvis before me. She's a homebred filly who is out of Nahrain, who was the first Group 1 winner for me in my first year of training when winning the Prix de l'Opera." 

Ideally, Varian would have been surrounded by his family in the winner's enclosure but duty called. He explained: "It's a bit gutting that [wife] Hanako and the kids are not here as they are at Royal Windsor. She has had her [clothing range] pop-up stalls here the past two days but not today unfortunately."

On the riding arrangements for the yard in general, Varian added: "James Doyle will ride the majority for us when available, but his first priority is Wathnan Racing, for whom he was riding in France today. Silvestre de Sousa is not a bad substitute and he rode a winner for us at Goodwood yesterday and also Charyn in the Group 2 mile at Sandown last week."

As for future targets, Varian has Royal Ascot on the agenda for his winner, who was having only her third start on the Rowley Mile.

He said: "We have to bear in mind that she's had two races within the space of two and a half weeks. It makes sense to give her a break now and head to the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot."

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