Godolphin's Blue Bunting sprung a minor Classic surprise as she powered home to land the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Sent off a relatively unconsidered 16-1 chance, Blue Bunting presented trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni with a first British Classic success while owners Godolphin were landing a third victory in the fillies' race.
Group One-winning filly Hooray adopted her customary front-running tactics but was a spent force heading inside the final furlong, while Memory blew any chance of winning with a very slow start.
Together was the first to commit for home and looked the likely winner when taking a couple of lengths out of the field passing the furlong marker, but Blue Bunting flashed home under Frankie Dettori to score by three-quarters of a length.
The winning rider said: ‘That was great and a pleasant surprise.
‘The lads had been telling me she was working well, but obviously she had a lot to prove on form.
‘Things worked out really well as they went a good pace, which was what I needed.
‘It's fantastic as I haven't won a Classic for a while and I'm based here in Newmarket. This is my home town.
‘I'm delighted for the Godolphin team. Mahmood told me she was more of an Oaks filly, so what ever she was going to do today was a bonus. To win is fantastic.’
A trip to Epsom now looks likely for Blue Bunting.
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford explained: ‘We have been in two minds whether to run in an Oaks trial but we decided to come here. We did it with Moonshell who came third and went on to win the Oaks (in 1995) and that's the plan with this one.
‘She's a highly progressive filly and certainly a step up in trip and a bit of cut in the ground wouldn't hurt her.
‘British Classics are wonderful races to win and every year we try hard to be part of it.’
For Al Zarooni, Blue Bunting's victory provided a notable first British Classic and he is hoping she can emulate Godolphin's 2002 Guineas winner Kazzia and follow up at Epsom.
He added: ‘I'm very pleased with the filly and this is my first Classic in England.
‘We always thought she was a mile-and-a-half filly and an Oaks filly and she wanted softer ground. Today she has won when we thought everything was wrong!
‘She's still an Oaks filly, but she has done very well.’
Aidan O'Brien was delighted by the efforts of Together, who was last seen finishing fifth in a sales race at this track last month.
He said: ‘I was delighted to see her run so well and the trip seemed to suit her.’
John Gosden is now eyeing a trip to Royal Ascot with third-placed Maqaasid.
‘She's not very big and got a bit caught out with that headwind. She was just blown about a bit,’ he said.
‘It was a real test of a mile because of the wind but I was delighted with that. It was a great run and she'll go for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot now.’
Jockey Richard Hughes remains convinced Memory still has the ability to win, but only when she consents to do so.
‘If she wants to go she can win but she refused to jump off (from the stalls),’ he added.
‘She nearly did the same at Royal Ascot but I got away with it. We jumped off 10 lengths behind and still won but she didn't want to jump off at all today.’
