By Sean Cronin
Newmarket's G1 July Cup card began in style when Godolphin's hitherto unraced Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Promising Run, by Hard Spun) powered away from nine rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Saturday's £21,000 Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over seven furlongs.
The homebred daughter of four-time Group 2 victrix Promising Run (Hard Spun) was a touch hesitant at the break and chased the leaders in fourth through the initial fractions. Nudged along soon after passing halfway, the 5-2 second favourite bounded to the fore approaching the final furlong and lengthened clear on the climb to easily account for long-time pacesetter Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) by an impressive 3 1/4 lengths. Desert Flower becomes the third Rising Star by Night Of Thunder and a fifth winner in the last eight renewals of this contest for trainer Charlie Appleby.
“They've done a great job with her at home because we couldn't get her in the stalls a couple of weeks ago and, when she did eventually go in, she didn't want to come out,” commented Appleby. “She's a filly that has obviously got natural ability, but is still very raw. William [Buick] said he was surprised she was able to win today. He sat on her the other day and said he liked her and she was ready to run, but he was surprised how she came into the race. I don't want to say anything too bold, but she'll appreciate stepping up to a mile. She appreciated the conditions and we might work back from something like the [G2] May Hill [at Doncaster], but there's water to go under the bridge before then. It was a nice performance and there will be marked improvement because she's been so raw at home. It was nice to see her pick up when she met the rising ground and go away. There's a lot of potential there.”
Desert Flower is the latest of two foals and second scorer produced by four-time Group 2 winner Promising Run (Hard Spun), herself a half-sister to G3 Lillie Langtry Stakes runner-up Arabian Comet (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) out of Brazilian Group 1 heroine Aviacion (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}). Descendants of the winner's third dam Arbulus (Liloy {Fr}) include the elite-level performers Eddington (Arg) (Contested Bid), Panama (Brz) (Signal Tap) and Persane (Tampero {Fr}). The March-foaled chestnut is kin to last term's G3 Solario Stakes victor Aablan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
1st-Newmarket, £21,000, Mdn, 7-13, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:25.76, gd.
DESERT FLOWER (IRE), f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)
1st Dam: Promising Run (MGSW-UAE, GSW-Eng & Tur, $933,721), by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Aviacion (Brz), by Know Heights (Ire)
3rd Dam: Arbulus, by Liloy (Fr)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,861. *1/2 to Aablan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW-Eng. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick.
Impressive debut 👀
Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder) makes a winning start for Charlie Appleby and @WilliamBuickX to land the Rossdales @BritishEBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes 🔵@godolphin | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/rm4RJ9yXG5
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 13, 2024
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