The Group 1 Falmouth Stakes may only have attracted seven runners but it is not short on quality with two Royal Ascot winners and last year’s 1000 Guineas winner in attendance.
The market leader is Integral who was one of four Royal winners for Sir Michael Stoute last month. She was heavily backed to win the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes and ran out a comfortable winner from L’Amour De Ma Vie and Purr Along. The third horse re-opposes along with fifth placed Sky Lantern.
I had tipped Sky Lantern but feared the worst when she began to drift in the betting. Clearly there was no stable confidence behind her so it was a creditable run to finish only five lengths off the winner. She never appeared with a chance that day and will be seeking justice for her unlucky run in this race 12 months ago.
You may recall that she was carried half-way across Newmarket Heath by Elusive Katie who was allowed to keep the race. I am all for letting the best horse keep the race but it does sometimes seem that your jockey would have to drag his rival off his horse to have the race taken off him these days!
As much as I admire both Integral and Sky Lantern, I am puzzled by the opposition to Coronation Stakes winner Rizeena in the betting. Clive Brittain’s filly didn’t manage to get into the frame in the 1000 Guineas but plenty of good fillies have done that in the past. She then won at Ascot despite being in front for a long time under Ryan Moore.
It was a muddling race but she showed that she was back to her best and has Olivier Peslier aboard on Friday. The Frenchman will be well advised on Rizeena’s quirks and I can see him shadowing Moore on Integral waiting to pounce late on. Hughes will probably do the same on Sky Lantern but I just wonder if she still has the same speed as a year ago.
Certify missed her classic season after the shenanigans at Godolphin and won first time out in Dubai. She has disappointed twice since and she does not look good enough. Kiyoshi looks a difficult ride while only the bookies will be cheering for Purr Along and Peace Burg.
Rizeena at 9-2 Paddy Power
