Desert Flower bids to remain perfect in G1 1,000 Guineas

Unbeaten filly Desert Flower looks to pick up where she left off her juvenile campaign as she goes for back-to-back G1 wins over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, 4 May.

The Night Of Thunder homebred ended 2024 as Europe’s joint highest-rated two-year-old over a mile, alongside Too Darn Hot colt Hotazhell, following a commanding display in the G1 Fillies’ Mile at the Dubai Future Champions Festival.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Desert Flower started out with two easy victories at Newmarket’s July Course before taking the step up to Group company in her stride with a straightforward success in Doncaster’s G2 May Hill Stakes.

Charlie Appleby said: “Desert Flower has been faultless all winter. She has hit every target we have set her at home and we are heading into this full of confidence. The ground looks as though it will be the quickest of the three-day meeting, but she is a versatile filly and we are very much looking forward to it.”

The same trainer sends out two contenders in the afternoon’s feature race for older fillies and mares, the G2 Dahlia Stakes, including last season’s G1 Belmont Oaks scorer Cinderella’s Dream.

During a highly successful US sojourn, the Shamardal filly annexed the G2 Saratoga Oaks and was denied a clear run when chasing home Eclipse Award winner Moira in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Cinderella’s Dream also filled the runner-up spot on her four-year-old return as she went down by a head to Choisya in the G2 Balanchine, with the winner going on to capture the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland last month.

Beautiful Love enjoyed a productive trip of her own to North America last season, readily taking the G3 Jockey Club Oaks and finishing a close fourth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

She returned to the United States for her first appearance of the year, coming home sixth after a troubled run in the G3 La Prevoyante Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January.

Charlie Appleby said: “Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love came up against each other a couple of times last year and both ran very solid races in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.  

“Cinderella’s Dream has definitely come forward since the Balanchine and should take a bit of beating if she runs to her best.

“Things didn’t really happen for Beautiful Love on her seasonal return at Gulfstream Park, and she looks in great order. Nine furlongs will be on the sharper side for her, but she deserves her place in the field.”