Elmalka swoops late for Guineas glory
French filly Ramatuelle made a bold bid for home.
Elmalka flew home to break French hearts and give Roger Varian a first win in the Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket.
A fast-finishing third in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury on just her second start, the daughter of Kingman was again doing her strongest work late stepping up to a mile in the hands of former champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa.
It was French raider Ramatuelle who looked to have sealed the deal for Christopher Head as Aurelien Lemaitre made his move for home entering the dip, but the 9-2 second favourite was helpless as the closers descended on her in the final 50 yards, Elmalka finishing strongest of all to strike at odds of 28-1, with Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna coming through for second.
As well as a first Classic on his home patch for Varian, it was a first British Classic for Brazilian De Sousa as he marked his comeback season to UK racing in style.
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