Reigning champion jockey Richard Hughes has accumulated a host of top-flight European races during his career but finally corrected one glaring omission as Sky Lantern provided his first British Classic in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Riding with greater confidence and competence than any other jockey at present, the 40-year-old believed his wait would end 24 hours earlier in the 2000 Guineas, but Toronado was unable to fulfil his dreams with a tame fourth place.
Hughes had banished the disappointment and steadied himself for another white-knuckle ride on hold-up filly Sky Lantern (9-1), who charged through late to deprive the sponsors’ runner Just The Judge by half a length.
Already a Group One winner in last year’s Moyglare, Sky Lantern, Hughes and trainer Richard Hannon had shared other subsequent disappointments, such when she was stuck in traffic during the Breeders’ Cup and latterly when collared by Hot Snap in last month’s Nell Gwyn Stakes.
Sir Henry Cecil’s Hot Snap, the 5-2 favourite, was a faded version of her former self and never got involved, eventually finishing ninth.
Just The Judge, who is part-owned by Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing operation, had occupied the position at the head of the market before the Nell Gwyn, but performed far better than her drifting odds of 7-1 might have suggested.
Ridden prominently by Jamie Spencer, Charlie Hills’ filly appeared booked to maintain her unbeaten record as she passed Winning Express (eventually fourth) with a furlong to go, but Hughes once again timed his challenge to perfection and darted through to lead just before the line.
“About bloody time,” said Hughes.
“I think my wife was more upset than I was (after Toronado) – I was consoling her all night.
“I remember telling her it was only a horse race and there were more important things.
“She said, ‘I know it’s only a horse race, but you never seem to win the big ones’.
“I’ve won plenty of Classics everywhere else and I was pretty sure one day I’d get the horse, but it’s a monkey off my back.”
