- Silvestre de Sousa producing a brilliant ride on Elmalka to land the 1000 Guineas
- He returned in March after a ban for breaching Hong Kong’s anti-betting rules
The resurrection of Silvestre De Sousa’s career was complete when the 43-year-old landed his first Classic by winning the 1,000 Guineas on 28-1 shot Elmalka.
The three-time champion jockey only returned to racing in March after a 10-month ban for breaching Hong Kong’s strict anti-betting rules.
The last-to-first win on Roger Varian-trained Elmalka, who was only running for the third time, had a touch of fortune for De Sousa.
James Doyle was in the saddle when the filly was third in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury last month but his No 1 retainer with Wathnan Racing meant he was in France on Sunday.
Brazilian De Sousa said: ‘I have been trying to win a Classic for so long, it is an amazing feeling to get one. I am picking up the leftover rides and working hard behind the scenes.
Silvestre de Sousa producing a brilliant ride on Elmalka to land the 1000 Guineas on Sunday
‘I just want my opportunity back. I love British racing. It is my home. It is where I started out and where I want to finish one day.’
Elmalka was taken off her feet in the early stages but ate up the ground in the final furlong as she clawed back the eventual third Ramatuelle, who paid the price for hitting the front too early under Aurelien Lemaitre.
Notable Speech, a 16-1 shot, beat Rosallion by a convincing length-and-a-half on Saturday to land the 2,000 Guineas.
Favourite City Of Troy flopped and finished ninth.
