Desert Flower has the 2025 Betfred 1000 Guineas firmly on her agenda after maintaining her unbeaten record in the highlight of day one of the Dubai Future Champions Festival, the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile. 

Godolphin’s homebred two-year-old Night Of Thunder filly came into today’s contest with three impressive wins to her name and added a fourth with a minimum of fuss under jockey William Buick. Settled in behind the leaders, the 10-11 Favourite took the lead entering the final furlong before quickly putting the race to bed to come home five and a half lengths to the good over January.

Successful trainer Charlie Appleby, enjoying his first victory in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile, said: “Firstly, I want to congratulate the team because she is a filly that has got a switch on her. She is the second foal (of her dam Promising Run) and the first, Aablan, unfortunately beat himself up so the team have done a great job minding this filly.

“I was very pleased with the way she paraded today, it was as calm as we’ve ever seen her. William just had to sit into her, she is still quite raw, but as soon as she hit the rising ground I was confident she was going to pick up and go away.

“Full credit to Collen Storey who rides her at home, because she is not easy. People have asked how good is she and you would never know. She goes up and down the gallops and Collen leaves her alone. When we do ask her to do a bit of work, she goes half a length and her ears go all over the shop! You like them when they show you what they can do in the afternoon.

“She is a lovely, big, scopey filly and I would love to see her put on some condition over the winter – if she puts on 20kg I’ll be delighted to see her in the spring.

“She is finished for the year now. I don’t see much point in going beyond a mile for the moment although she could possibly stretch out to 10 furlongs.

“Let’s see where we are next year but the definite plan is to be back here in the spring (for the Betfred 1000 Guineas.”

It was also a first success in the contest for jockey William Buick, who added: “I was very impressed. Everyone has thought highly of her from the word go and she has come through the ranks beautifully. Her campaign has been planned faultlessly.

“She just got a bit lost going into the dip, as Charlie predicted beforehand, but she came out of it so well and is a very classy filly with everything to go with it.

“She is still learning. Today was another test and she came through it with flying colours. You want to see them finish their races strongly, which she did today and has done in all her races.

“It was a lovely performance today and it’s great she is a homebred for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and everyone involved.

“She could do anything. She is unbeaten, obviously gets a mile and could get further. We’ll be back here in the spring, all being well. Hopefully, she has a good winter.”

Earlier in the afternoon Topgear justified 3-1 favouritism to come home the highly impressive winner of the Group Two Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes. The five-year-old son of Wootton Bassett made history by becoming the first French-trained winner of the seven-furlong prize.

Partnered by Stephane Pasquier, Topgear raced prominently from the off and after taking the lead entering the last quarter mile, he showed a spectacular turn of foot to go clear inside the final furlong and win by five and a half lengths from Royal Scotsman.

The success of Topgear capped a great week for his trainer Christopher Head, following the success of Ramatuelle in the Group One Prix de la Foret at Longchamp last weekend.

Head said: “What Topgear did today was really impressive. I really love the horse and I am really hopeful for next season as he is going to be very interesting over that distance.”

Stephane Pasquier added: “He is very easy to ride. He was very impressive when he won last time at Longchamp and I am very happy to see him back in good form today.

“He was unbeaten as a two-year-old and I felt he was a Group One horse. He is now coming back and I am very happy to see that.

“I think the plan could include going to Saudi Arabia with him next year. He is a good horse and there are good races to go for with for him.”