One in a Million (horse)

One in a Million made her racecourse debut against nine opponents in the Listed Blue Seal Stakes over six furlongs at Ascot Racecourse in September. She was made favourite for the race after reports that she had performed impressively in a training gallop against her stable companions Formulate and Odeon who had finished first and second in the Hoover Fillies' Mile. After tracking the leaders until the final furlong, One in a Million produced what Timeform described as an "electrifying burst"[4] of acceleration to take the lead and win easily by one and a half lengths from Lyric Dance. In October, the filly was matched against colts as she carried top weight in the Houghton Stakes over seven furlong at Newmarket Racecourse. She took the lead from the start, went clear of the field in the last quarter-mile and won easily by four lengths from Milford, despite being eased down by Mercer in the closing stages. As a result of her win she was made one of the favourites for the following year's 1000 Guineas although Cecil was cautious, describing her as a "rather fragile" filly, who "may not winter well".[4]

On her three-year-old debut, One in a Million was matched against the Cheveley Park Stakes winner Devon Ditty in the Group Three Nell Gwyn Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket. The race was a trial race for the 1000 Guineas and One in a Million was made the 8/13 favourite.[6] She was restrained by Mercer until half way but then accelerated into the lead and went clear of the field to win by five lengths from Devon Ditty. Three weeks later One in a Million started even money favourite against seventeen opponents for the 167th running of the 1000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile course. Her main rivals appeared to be Pitasia (Prix Robert Papin, Critérium des Pouliches), Topsy (Fred Darling Stakes) and Lyric Dance (Free Handicap). She was always going well and settled the race with a burst of acceleration three furlongs from the finish which took her clear of the field. In the final strides she appeared to be tiring slightly but she was never seriously challenged and won by one and a half lengths and a head from the outsiders Abbeydale and Yanuka.[2]

As One in a Million seemed most unlikely to stay further than a mile she was withdrawn from the one and a half-mile Oaks Stakes and next appeared in the Coronation Stakes (then a Group Two race) at Royal Ascot. She started the 10/11 favourite in a field which included Abbeydale, Yanuka, Topsy and Formulate. She took the lead early in the straight and looked likely to win easily but in the final furlong she was overtaken by the outsider Buz Kashi and was beaten one and a half lengths into second place. She was awarded the race after an inquiry by the racecourse stewards, who disqualified Buz Kashi for causing interference to Lightning Record two furlongs from the finish. For her next race, One in a Million was brought back in distance to race against specialist sprinters in the July Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket. She never looked likely to win and was eased down by Mercer in the closing stages, finishing unplaced behind Thatching.[2]