Medaglia d’Oro’s Flit Captures Thousand Guineas in a Thriller

Mark Smith - Saturday October 12

Saturday's Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) was a three-horse war over the final 300 metres and it was Godolphin's race favourite Flit that edged out Missile Mantra and Southbank and had James Cummings contemplating a run in the Group I Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in a fortnight.

Flit defeated Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) by a nose, with Southbank (Fastnet Rock) another short half-head away third. (images Grant Courtney)


Making her sixth start, Flit had just one previous win on her resume, the Group III Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington, which she had to share with Ready Set Sail, and had little luck at her most recent start in the Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude.

Winning jockey Hugh Bowman felt that the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) would have won more comfortably had it been run at a more even tempo.

"She's a quality filly and it wasn't a real test today," Bowman said.

"It was just a sprint home so I don't think we saw the best of her.

"I think if it was a genuinely run event she would have won more comfortably."

James Cummings said three-year-old fillies have a good record in the Cox Plate

"We've got that decision to make," Cummings said. 

"We can let the dust settle on today. We have to enjoy the win and a target that has well and truly been pulled off.

I must say before getting through the Caulfield Stakes this year it's looking pretty open. I dare say she'd be comfortable at a mile and a quarter.

"She came into this today with half a win to her name. While she can keep making ground and having the run with flashing lights on them, there is something to be said for winners. To come here and win a Group One with such little winning experience says a lot about her future.

"She can always lay claim to being a Thousand Guineas winner and that's a great title for her to hold and a wonderful achievement for all of the staff."

Flit is a half-sister to stakes-placed Flow and is the best of three winners from Group III placed Redoute's Choice mare Glissade, a daughter of Group III winner Steflara.

Glissade has a weanling filly by Street Boss (USA) and was covered last spring by Frosted (USA).

Flit gives Medaglia d'Oro (USA) his 25th success at the elite level and follows Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, the Darley stallion Astern and NZ Derby winner Crown Prosecutor as Medaglia d'Oro's Australian-bred Group 1 winners.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
One to Watch – Bendigo
Medaglia D’Oro (USA) has provided some smart two year-old winners this season for Godolphin including Group II winning filly Tenley, who is closely related to this winner at Bendigo on Friday.
Aquis Celebrate Another Promising Winner
Aquis Farm have formed partnerships with many high profile breeders and one of those bore fruit at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when promising Medaglia D’Oro (USA) colt Minted carried the Aquis colours to victory in a brilliant front running win.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Impressive Medaglia d'Oro Filly Eyes the Tatts Tiara
Winner of the Group III PJ Bell Stakes at Randwick in April, the James Cummings-trained Multaja capped a wonderful day for Blake Shinn when she powered home to win Saturday’s Listed Mittys Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.