'She's only going to get better' - potential turns into performance as Guineas hope Desert Flower blossoms

Summer promise turned to autumn achievement as Desert Flower blossomed in the Betfred May Hill Stakes and stamped herself a serious candidate for next spring's 1,000 Guineas.

The Godolphin filly had looked potentially smart in disposing of two fields of novices on the July course at Newmarket, quickening impressively each time and scoring by an aggregate of almost ten lengths.

And potential turned into performance as she stepped up in grade and showed just as stylish a burst of speed to complete a hat-trick in Group 2 company.

She moved easily into contention under William Buick and is now available at no bigger than 12-1 for next year's first fillies' Classic after a comfortable length-and-a-half success in a contest won by future multiple Group 1 winners Laurens and Inspiral in recent seasons.

Desert Flower: leads them home in the May HillCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"That was very pleasing," Buick said. "She's done everything right so far and she's a nice big filly with plenty of scope for next year. She's only going to get better.

"I was always happy. She felt like she was handling the ground well. She was just having a look when she got to the front, which you excuse in an inexperienced two-year-old. I was delighted with her.

"She came into the race very easily, that's the sign of a quality horse. She confirmed what she's shown us at home and on the racecourse on her previous starts."

A crack at Group 1 company is in the offing as trainer Charlie Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said: "Fingers crossed we can go to the Fillies' Mile now. That would be the obvious target and we'll see where we go from there. She's a big, scopey filly, so hopefully all she's going to do is improve."

Asked about that turn of speed, he said: "She showed that at Newmarket in novices but you're never quite sure what you're beating, you never know until you take on Group races. But she's done it nicely and she deserves a shot.

Desert Flower is clear of January at the lineCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's not a flashy workhorse, she always does everything nicely but she wouldn't set the world alight at home. But that tends to be the way sometimes.

"I'd say she's our best two-year-old filly. It's an important time of year with the two-year-olds and we'll wait and see, but they're all shaping up."

It is not only Buick and Merriam who rate the winner. Coolmore representative Kevin Buckley said of runner-up January: "Obviously, we were beaten by a very good filly."

Ollie Sangster could take the winner on again with third-placed Flight and said: "She’s a big filly, she’s going to keep improving. She’ll either be finished for the year or we might think about the Fillies’ Mile or something. She’ll be one for next year, when she’ll go up in trip."

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