Lantern gives Hughes his first British classic

Reigning champion jockey Richard Hughes has accumulated a host of top-flight European races during his career but finally corrected one glaring omission as Sky Lantern provided his first British classic in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday.

Riding with greater confidence and competence than any other jockey at present, the 40-year-old believed his wait would end 24 hours earlier in the 2000 Guineas, but Toronado was unable to fulfil his dreams with a tame fourth place.

Hughes had banished the disappointment and steadied himself for another white-knuckle ride on hold-up filly Sky Lantern (9-1), who charged through late to deprive the sponsors’ runner Just The Judge by half a length.