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Brazilian jockey De Sousa lands first classic in shock win / Photo: © POOL/AFP/File
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Brazilian jockey De Sousa lands first classic in shock win
Brazilian jockey Silvestre de Sousa recorded his first ever classic win, producing a brilliant ride on 28/1 outsider Elmalka to land the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.
The 43-year-old three-time British champion jockey timed his run to perfection, bringing Elmalka from virtually last of the 16 runners to pass French runner Ramatuelle inside the final yards of the mile (1,600m) classic.
For De Sousa it was a welcome victory, coming after he served a 10-month ban for a betting offence committed when he was riding in Hong Kong last year.
"It's a dream come true," De Sousa told ITV Racing. "It's brilliant for (trainer) Roger (Varian) to give me the opportunity and I'm delighted for the yard and the whole team.
"She's very tough and I think the further she's going to go the better she's going to be."
For Varian, 45, it was his first success in the race and he praised De Sousa for a "great ride".
"You never come into these races expecting to win," said Varian.
"I wouldn't have run her if I didn't think she'd run very well.
"I'm absolutely delighted and I'm thrilled for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum as he's supported me from day one and supported Michael Jarvis (Varian's predecessor) before me."
Ramatuelle had looked set to deliver trainer Christopher Head victory in a race both his grandfather Alec Head and aunt Criquette Head-Maarek enjoyed success in as trainers -- his father Freddy having also won as a jockey.
Jockey Aurelien Lemaitre had a two length lead entering the final furlong but the climb to the winning post proved too much.
She had little left in the tank as Elmalka and then Irish raider Porta Fortuna edged past her.
Elmalka won by a neck, with Tom Marquand on Porta Fortuna beating the gallant Ramatuelle by a short head, a photo finish having to separate them.
Record-breaking Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien has had little to smile about over the weekend.
His odds-on favourite for Saturday's 2000 Guineas, City of Troy, whom he had described last year as the best two-year-old he had trained, trailed in third from last, leaving O'Brien "shocked."
His filly in the 1000, Ylang Ylang, put up more of a fight, finishing fifth, sparking the bookmakers into making her favourite for the Epsom Oaks in June.
P. Hansen--BTZ
