Tattersalls 250th Year Falmouth Stakes |
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| Group 1, Newmarket 16:15 £200,000 added, Fillies 3yo plus, 1m, Class 1  |
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| Friday 8th July 2016 | |
1 Alice Springs 5/2
2 Very Special 16/1
3 Always Smile 8/1
NR: Euro Charline
7 ran Distances: 2¼l, nse, 1½l
TIME 1m 34.42s (fast by 1.78s)
Alice Springs delivers in the Tattersalls 250th Year Falmouth Stakes
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The big mile prize for fillies had somehow eluded the master trainer until now but his decision to pit three-year-old Alice Springs in against her older rivals paid off handsomely.
There was a flood of money for the Ryan Moore-ridden daughter of Galileo in the moments before the off, seeing her price contract from 4/1 right into 5/2, and she didn't disappoint in glorious sunshine on the July course.
It's been a remarkable journey to the top for the experienced filly, who was opening her account in top-class company at the seventh time of asking.
She had produced several creditable efforts in defeat at the top table including a staying-on third to Minding in the 1000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile back in April, and an equally eyecatching third behind Qemah after suffering all kinds of traffic problems in the closing stages of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
This time she enjoyed a charmed passage throughout, settling sweetly on the heels of the leaders as Very Special and Irish Rookie battled for supremacy at the head of affairs.
Their exertions took their toll on meeting the rising ground with a furlong to travel and Moore was in the ideal spot to deliver his mount with a winning surge.
With easy-to-back market leader Usherette, so impressive when landing the Duke of Cambridge Stakes last month, completely failing to fire, the result was never in doubt inside the distance and Alice Springs powered home to score by two and a quarter lengths. Very Special rallied to claim second, a nose ahead of fellow Godolphin representative Always Smile back in third.
Moore said: "Aidan said he felt she was improving.
"She's a big girl and she's had a busy year, but she's kept coming forward all the time and it was a very good performance.
"I think the ground helped her, but she's quite adaptable.
"It went very smooth for us. We had a good run and she deserved that."
Tattersalls 250th Year Falmouth Stakes
(British Champions Series) (Fillies' Group 1)
£200,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Firm
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (4) | Alice Springs (IRE) 5/2 | R L Moore 8-12 |
A P O'Brien | 3 | |
| 2nd | (5) | 2¼ | Very Special (IRE) 16/1 | James McDonald 9-7 |
S bin Suroor | 4 |
| 3rd | (8) | nse | Always Smile (IRE) 8/1 | James Doyle 9-7 |
S bin Suroor | 4 |
| 4th | (1) | 1½ | Irish Rookie (IRE) 50/1 | C O'Donoghue 9-7 |
M Meade | 4 |
| 5th | (3) | 1 | Ashadihan 33/1 | J P Spencer 8-12 |
K A Ryan | 3 |
| 6th | (2) | ½ | Usherette (IRE) 11/10f | M Barzalona 9-7 |
A Fabre | 4 |
| 7th | (7) | s.h | Amazing Maria (IRE) 7/1 | O Peslier 9-7 |
D O'Meara | 5 |
| NR | (6) | Euro Charline 8/1 | Non Runner 9-7 |
M Botti | 5 |
