Sky Lantern pictured winning at the Curragh last year © Photo Healy Racing
Richard Hannon's Sky Lantern (9/1) won the 200th running of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon.
Hannon's dreams of winning yesterday's QIPCO 2000 Guineas had ended in disappointment but Sky Lantern went some way to atoning for Toronado's eclipse in claiming the glory in the first fillies' Classic.
The pace was only steady but the favourite Hot Snap, who had Sky Lantern behind when impressing in the Nell Gwyn, was in trouble fully a quarter of a mile from home.
Just The Judge was travelling well on the front end in company with Winning Express but began to flounder as Richard Hughes made relentless progress from the rear.
The three went toe to toe in the middle of the Rowley Mile course with Sky Lantern prevailing by half a length from the Charlie Hills-trained runner.
Winning Express' stamina ebbed away close home and she was run out of third by the fast finishing Aidan O'Brien trained Moth whose late flourish prompted Sky Bet to cut her to 4/1 from 8s for the Investec Oaks.
Champion jockey Hughes, who was claiming his first domestic Classic triumph, said: "They didn't go over fast - it was all about giving her plenty of cover. She was tough to see it out to the line."
"My wife was so upset (after Toronado's defeat) - I was consoling her all night - but today was great. I believed in this filly. I knew I gave her a bad ride the last day, but she's a good filly and loves that fast ground. It's thoroughly deserved.
"It's taken a long time (to win a British Classic)."
Richard Hannon jnr, the Herridge handler's son and assistant, said: "We were pretty low after yesterday. It was a very disappointing, but she deserved a bit of luck, this filly.
"She went to America (Breeders' Cup) and didn't get any luck and then she bumped into a very good filly (Hot Snap) who didn't run her race today. "I'm delighted for Hughesie. He's one of the best jockeys ever and I'm just delighted he's done it on one of ours."
