Desert Flower Set to Test Unbeaten Record at Newmarket

Desert Flower will put her unbeaten record and Classic hopes on the line in Friday’s bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.

Charlie Appleby’s talented daughter of Night Of Thunder has been impressive in all three starts, including a commanding performance in the Group Two May Hill Stakes last month, bringing her tally to three wins from three races. Now, she tops most bookmakers’ lists for Friday’s Group One race, and Appleby is confident that his promising filly has even more to offer.

"I’m very pleased with her," said Appleby. "She’s still learning, and although people might have expected a big ‘wow’ factor at Doncaster, she’s a filly who is improving with every race. You could see her pricking her ears when she hit the front—it shows she’s still gaining experience."

Already listed as a 7-1 shot for next year’s 1000 Guineas, a victory in the Fillies’ Mile would cement Desert Flower as one of the key contenders for the upcoming Classics. However, Appleby remains pragmatic about the possibility of a first defeat, especially with strong rivals like Rockfel winner Bubbling and Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Dreamy in the lineup.

"It’s very English not to want to get beat, but I don’t mind if my horses lose," Appleby explained. "She had to work a bit more at Doncaster, but sometimes they learn more from defeat than victory, especially when preparing for Group Ones or Classics. Hopefully, on Friday, she’ll show she’s a leading contender for next year’s Guineas."