The timing was perfect. Elmalka, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, closed from last of 18 to win Sunday’s Group 1 English 1000 Guineas for 3-year-old fillies at a mile at Newmarket Racecourse in a shocking result. Elmalka paid $88.20 in American pools, but was only 28-1 with British bookmakers. The filly’s few supporters watched in suspense as Elmalka closed steadily through the final sixteenth to grab the lead on the line, edging 11-1 Porta Fortuna, who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita last November. Elmalka won by a neck. Porta Fortuna, trained in Ireland by Donnacha O’Brien, finished a short head in front of 4-1 Ramatuelle, who took the lead with more than a quarter-mile remaining. Ramatuelle, a Kentucky-bred filly by Justify, was a two-time group stakes winner in France in 2023. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Fallen Angel, the 4-1 favorite, finished eighth, beaten 4 3/4 lengths. Elmalka, trained by Roger Varian for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, broke slowly and was held up at the rear of a field of 16 in the $657,460 English 1000 Guineas. De Sousa rode a patient race, keeping the filly toward the back of the field on the straightaway course until the final quarter-mile, which rises to the finish. The 1000 Guineas was the first win in a British classic race for de Sousa, 42. He was Britain’s leading rider by winners three times in the 2010s, and resumed riding in that country this year after spending recent seasons in Hong Kong. “I’m so proud,” de Sousa told the press. “I’ve been trying to win a classic for so long.” De Sousa said his expectations for Elmalka’s chances rose when the leaders failed to draw away after the midway point. “I was hoping that when we hit the rising ground she would pick up,” he said. “She’s still a bit green and inexperienced. “I didn’t want to be at the back, but the situation of the race and the way she traveled for me, I just had to accept it and ride the race from there. “She delivered for me. I couldn’t do it all by myself and she picked up when I wanted.” By Kingman, Elmalka has won 2 of 3 starts. She won a seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies on the all-weather surface at Southwell Racecourse last November in her debut, a far cry from the more glamourous races at Newmarket. In her 3-year-old debut, Elmalka closed well to finish third in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies at Newbury Racecourse on April 20. Elmalka was ridden that day by James Doyle, who typically rides first call for Varian. On Sunday, Doyle was obligated to ride Melo Melo, who finished second in a listed stakes at odds of 2-5 at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. Doyle rides first call for Wathnan Racing of Qatar, the owner of Melo Melo. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.