“This is what dreams are made of” – Desert Flower caps monumental weekend for Godolphin
Classic scenes were awash with royal blue on either side of the Atlantic over the weekend as Godolphin registered an incredible quartet of feature-race wins and capping it all off was Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder), who extended her unbeaten record to five with a monumental English 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) win at Newmarket on Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s powerhouse operation began the historical run with Good Cheer (Medaglia D’Oro) who bossed the Kentucky Oaks (Gr 1, 9f) at Churchill Downs on Friday, before Ruling Court (Justify) claimed English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) honours on the Rowley Mile on Saturday.
That incredible double was then followed by Sovereignty’s (Into Mischief) heroic victory in the Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) – a first in ‘The Run for the Roses’ for his owners – and it was left to Desert Flower to complete the clean sweep as the even-money favourite for the fillies Classic.
The Charlie Appelby-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) duly rose to the occasion, racing at the head of affairs under William Buick among the far–side group of horses and responding gamely when asked to brush off stands–side challenger Flight (Siyouni).
She crossed the line with a length in hand over the 28-1 chance, while Group 2-winning Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) filly Simmering was third, another length behind her Ollie Sangster-trained stablemate.
While the sight of the royal blue silks coming to the fore was nothing new for the past 48 hours, the victory was indeed a novel one for Appelby and Buick, who were each celebrating their first win in the English 1,000 Guineas in addition to bagging the Guineas double.
“I’m a very happy man,” Buick said post-race. “This means the world, what a weekend for Godolphin, unbelievable. To do the Guineas double, Oaks and Kentucky Derby…I can’t put it into words. This is what dreams are made of.
“We looked at the race beforehand and me and Charlie thought we’d have to make our own running and she’s shown what a versatile filly she is. She’s very uncomplicated and she keeps galloping. The only concern I had was when they split into two groups, then you lose control. But she got organised down the dip, met the rising ground – she’s all class and she may even get further.”
Desert Flower was cut into a best-priced 7-2 favourite for the Epsom Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) next month and connections are keen to go for more Classic success over the extended trip.
“I think that [the Oaks] is the way everyone was thinking beforehand, hopefully after this that will be the plan,” Buick said.
“We have to enjoy these moments, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has put so much into the sport and he’s been rewarded this weekend.”
Appleby added: “To have a weekend like this is very special. The team in America were homebreds, this filly is a homebred, it’s been amazing. It’s a huge team effort – Godolphin itself, what it’s achieved in America, here, and in Australia, Japan and everywhere else around the world. What’s been done this weekend is remarkable.”
Desert Flower was adding a third stakes win and second Group 1 victory to her name after her dominant Fillies Mile (Gr 1, 1m) win over course and distance last October, and Appleby was quick to hail her as the best filly to grace Mouton Paddocks.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It took me long enough to win a 2,000 Guineas and we haven’t had many fillies. People have asked me if she’s the best filly we’ve had – she is by far.
“I wasn’t too worried watching the race. We saw it in the Fillies’ Mile and in the May Hill [Stakes], she goes through those gears. Great ride by William, what more can I say.”
Asked what it means to Sheikh Mohammed to win an extraordinary quadruple over the weekend, Appleby said: “The Kentucky Derby has been on the ‘bucket list’ for more than 30 plus years. He’s had plenty of goes at it, so to do that is an amazing feat but to do what has been done this weekend is why he’s so passionate about it.
“Thankfully every year he’s looking for yearlings and looking for two-year-olds. It’s amazing. We’re having all this success with three-year-olds now but he’s only looking for two-year-olds because he knows they’re the future!
“It’s been a great weekend for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. I did speak to the team in America this morning and said ‘thanks ever so much lads, you’ve put the pressure on now!’, but we don’t mind that. Pressure’s good.
“We’ll make a plan now, whether it’s Ascot or whether we decide whether she’s capable of stepping up a bit further, we’ll have those healthy discussions.”
Desert Flower’s victory on Sunday gave Kildangan Stud-based stallion Night Of Thunder his first win in a northern hemisphere Classic and underlined a stellar day for the sire following Sunly’s win in the Prix de la Seine (Listed, 2200m) at Longchamp.
A homebred for Godolphin, Desert Flower (3 f Night Of Thunder – Promising Run by Hard Spun) is the second foal out of five-time Group-winning Hard Spun (Danzig) mare Promising Run, with the other being Solario Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) winner Aablan (Dubawi).