Search
where the horse is always the hero
Article Item
Posted 2024-09-12 20:35:52  
Desert Flower continues to flourish with G2 May Hill Stakes success

Unbeaten juvenile Desert Flower took the step up to G2 company in her stride with a comfortable victory in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, UK, on Thursday, 12 September.

The Night Of Thunder homebred, stepping up in class for Charlie Appleby on the back of two impressive Newmarket wins, broke on terms in the mile contest and soon tracked the leading trio of Anshoda, Serving With Style and Flight.

Switched out with three furlongs left, Desert Flower stayed on strongly to hit the front just inside the final furlong. She was kept up to her work by William Buick in the closing strides, hitting the line a length and a half ahead of January.

Charlie Appleby said: “Desert Flower did what we expected, although she is still quite lightly framed and will hopefully grow into herself over the winter. I would imagine that we will look towards the G1 Fillies’ Mile with her and we will see how she comes out of the race before finalising plans.

“She is an exciting filly for next year because whatever she achieves this season was always going to be a bonus.”

William Buick said: “This was a big step up on what Desert Flower had achieved, but we were very confident that she could deal with it and I thought she was foot perfect. She looked around in front and I just had to keep her up to her work.

“Everyone has always liked her, and Charlie was very clear that he wanted to come here after she won first time out. This race has been won by some smart fillies in the past and I think she is in that category.

“She is a big filly with plenty of scope and a beautiful pedigree. It all suggests that she is going to get better as a three-year-old.” 

Godolphin text and image

Rate:
Email link to a friend | Printable Version
  • Britain
    Displaying 10 ResultsSee All
    frankel filly gets 4.4m guineas, 2nd highest ever in europe3 days ago

    An electric atmosphere and frenzied trade characterised a remarkable opening session at Book 1 of th...

    View | Add Comment
    south african cunha takes joel stakes with coolmore sales horse 2024-09-30

    The connections of Prague (4c Galileo – Princess Noor, by Holy Roman Emperor) enjoyed a day to...

    View | Add Comment
    st leger 1-2 for ballydoyle2024-09-16

    The late Galileo’s influence was on full display at Doncaster on Saturday as Ballydoyle colts ...

    View | Add Comment
    stalwart jockey retires 2024-09-16

    Franny Norton, a stalwart of British horse racing, has officially retired after more than three deca...

    View | Add Comment
    ed dunlap, disqualified for 1 year, suspended2024-08-27

    Random drug testing for racing stable staff is likely to become a reality following a recent inciden...

    View | Add Comment
    dubai millennium inducted into british hall of fame 2024-08-27

    Dubai Millennium, the greatest horse to wear the Godolphin silks, has been inducted into the QIPCO B...

    View | Add Comment
    doyle defends ride2024-08-20

    James Doyle defended his ride on the 5-6 favorite, No Retreat, at Windsor on Monday after the pair n...

    View | Add Comment
    sheikh splits with top trainer 2024-08-19

    Roger Varian has announced that prominent owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has withdrawn all 10 horses he...

    View | Add Comment
    howard wright passes 2024-08-16

    Howard Wright, one of the founding members of staff at the Racing Post and a journalist respected ac...

    View | Add Comment
    turner wins for the girls in shergar cup, venniker joint top points scorer 2024-08-10

    Hayley Turner solidified her status as the reigning champion of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, lea...

    View | Add Comment