RACING NEWMARKET 1,000 GUINEAS REPORT:GODOLPHIN'S BLUE Bunting finished with a late surge to land yesterday's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
Group One-winning filly Hooray adopted her customary front-running tactics but was a spent force heading inside the final furlong, while Memory blew any chance of winning with a very slow start.
Together looked the likely winner when taking a couple of lengths out of the field passing the furlong marker, but Mahmood Al Zarooni’s 16 to 1 chance Blue Bunting flashed home to score by three-quarters of a length.
“That was great and a pleasant surprise,” Dettori said. “The lads had been telling me she was working well, but she had a lot to prove on form. Things worked out really well as they went a good pace, which was what I needed.
“I’m delighted for the Godolphin team. Mahmood told me she was more of an Oaks filly, so whatever she was going to do today was a bonus. To win is fantastic.”
Al Zarooni added: “This is my first Classic in England. We always thought she was a mile-and-a-half filly and an Oaks filly and she wanted softer ground. Today she has won when we thought everything was wrong!”
