Falakeyah added to Coronation field for Zarigana clash
Owen Burrows' unbeaten filly dazzled when winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last month, putting herself in the picture for both the Oaks and the French equivalent which will be run at Chantilly on Sunday.
However, after deciding against Epsom, a dirty scope ruled her out of France, with connections now taking the plunge to drop back to a mile with their supremely talented daughter of New Bay.
This is eyecatching 👀
FALAKEYAH follows in the footsteps of future Oaks winner Taghrooda winning the @Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes in sparkling fashion ✨ pic.twitter.com/t0KvzFPUbO
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) May 4, 2025
In a statement on shadwellstud.com, the owners racing manager Angus Gold said: 'Jim (Crowley) has been saying all spring 'this filly has plenty of speed' and she showed that when she won at Newmarket on her first start of the year.
'Once we had decided not to stretch her stamina to a mile and a half in the Oaks, the next option was the Prix de Diane. However, she did not scope clean two weeks ago, so Owen and the team gave her time and sorted it out, but the net result was the timescale proved too tight to get her back to peak fitness for the Diane, especially with the travelling over to France.
'Owen feels she is now back to where she was before the dirty scope. He's very happy with her and together we feel the Coronation is the right race for her now. Jim believes she has the pace to be competitive at a mile at that level. She's definitely got a lot of class, and we are looking forward to Friday.'
Falakeyah could ultimately prove the biggest challenge to Francis-Henri Graffard's Zarigana, the grandaughter of the great Zarkava who was awarded the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in the stewards room at ParisLongchamp after a late tussle with Charlie Fellowes' Shes Perfect.
Breaking: The French 1000 Guineas appeal has been dismissed and Zarigana keeps the race over Shes Perfect pic.twitter.com/M1mvmaTBdZ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 21, 2025
Shes Perfect also stands her ground but is poised for the challenge of the Prix de Diane on Sunday, while the same applies to Aidan O'Brien's Bedtime Story and Merrily who also feature amongst the confirmations for Friday's Group One.
Ballydoyle have also confirmed Exactly and January, while Ralph Beckett could be represented by 1000 Guineas fifth Chantilly Lace and the Amo Racing-owned Cathedral.
Ollie Sangster's Flight and Simmering finished ahead of Chantilly Lace in second and third respectively behind Desert Flower at Newmarket and could leave below par efforts in the Irish version of the Guineas behind here.
Meanwhile, Joseph Murphy's Cercene and Archie Watson's Duty First were two to thrive at the Curragh when third and fourth and are also amongst the Ascot possibles.
Jane Chapple-Hyam's unbeaten York scorer Kon Tiki joins Falakeyah in being supplemented into the field at a cost of £46,000, while Ger Lyons' Red Letter completes the list of 15 going forward.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
36 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trawlerman triumph highlights fruitful Royal Ascot for Gosden team
John Gosden said: 'It's been a terrific week and I think the highlight must be Trawlerman. he's been in the yard five years, he's by Golden Horn and he wears his heart on his sleeve. 'He's the most genuine horse and in his races he will do everything, but when you're with him in person he is a kind, sweet, gentle soul, and for him to run the race he did having coming second last year – what a fantastic result for the horse and for the sport.' Trawlerman won Thursday's Gold Cup (David Davies/PA) The Gosden team finished the week with five winners, the same number as O'Brien, but took the prize due to on extra silver medal they picked up through the week. Gosden Sr has previously won the award twice on his own and praised his son Thady after winning the award for a second time as a training partnership. John Gosden – who registered his 70th Royal Ascot winner this week – continued: 'Our week started very strongly with the right races and everyone working at home had the horses spot-on. 'They've run very well since, finishing second and third and second and third, and that of course counts towards winning this when you're at five winners all with Aidan O'Brien. 'Thady has been with me about eight years already – and the rest – so, poor chap, it must be getting a bit annoying! 'But there is nothing like this meeting, it's our Olympics, and it's great to win this. Without him I wouldn't be as on the ball at all. It's been a great combination.' Field Of Gold impressed on Tuesday (David Davies/PA) Reflecting on Field Of Gold's dazzling Group One victory which lit up the opening day of the fixture, he added: 'Field Of Gold is a horse who has just improved and improved and improved. 'His sire Kingman was a peerless miler, but he has shown the electric turn of foot his sire had. It was a great race with all three Guineas winners from north-western Europe in the same race. He is very exciting for Juddmonte and for all of us.' Ballydoyle handler O'Brien may have been thwarted in his quest for a fourth successive leading trainer prize, but his number one jockey Ryan Moore was out on his own as top rider for the 12th time. He capped yet another fine week in Berkshire with his seventh success of the meeting aboard Willie Mullins' Sober in the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes to finish two clear of Oisin Murphy. Sober won the final race of the meeting for Ryan Moore (John Walton/PA) Moore said: 'It's great to ride seven winners, Aidan's horses were in great form all work, when you're riding for Aidan and Willie you're going to ride winners.' Both Coolmore and Wathnan Racing finished the week with five winners, but it was Coolmore who came out on top for the third year running on account of their superior record with placed horses. Coolmore's MV Magnier said: 'It means a lot to everyone. The guys and everyone put everything into this week, and for Aidan and Ryan to do such a good job, it's incredible. 'We're very grateful and we are very lucky to be here. We are very lucky to have the King and Queen present every day this week. It's a big deal for our business.'
North Wales Chronicle
40 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Moreira narrowly fails to weave Ascot magic for Japan
The Brazilian pilot, known as the 'Magic Man', has ridden big winners around the globe and was entrusted with providing Japan with a first victory at the Royal meeting when receiving the leg-up aboard Noriyuki Hori's ace sprinter – who was sent off the 2-1 favourite for the final Group One of the week. Having been subject to persistent money since advertising his wellbeing in a recent Newmarket gallop, the six-year-old travelled through the contest in sublime style for Moreira. However, he met a determined rival in Lazzat in the closing stages and when the duo began to duel late into the piece, it was Jerome Reynier's French raider who came out on top in the international showdown for sprinting supremacy. 'We went into the race with a lot of confidence, the horse was so well in himself but unfortunately we bumped into a very good horse today,' said Moreira. 'Lazzat's form indicated he would be a danger and he had been winning impressively on his home ground. 'Halfway through I thought I had him done, but he just had another kick and kept attacking the line. I was closing up the gap but we just bumped into a good horse today and my horse ran really well. 'We thought we had a really good crack and unfortunately we just bumped into a really good horse. I can't complain, he tried his very best. 'It's a pleasure to be at a festival like this – of course finishing second is not the best result, but I still have to be happy with that.' While the Wathnan Racing team were able to celebrate feature race success for the headline signing from their pre-Ascot delve into the transfer market, they were also delighted with the performance of fellow new signing Flora Of Bermuda. Andrew Balding's admirable filly was narrowly denied by Inisherin at York on her return to action and in her first outing in the peacock blue and old gold silks, she again hit the frame with a brave third in the hands of PJ McDonald. 'She's run an absolute blinder and she was just a little bit free early,' said Wathnan's Richard Brown. 'She's run another very solid race, she's so consistent. I'd be hopeful that one of these might drop her way and she had some very good horses behind her. 'These two (Lazzat and Satono Reve) have obviously gone a long way clear, but she's finished best of the rest.'
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Moreira narrowly fails to weave Ascot magic for Japan
The Brazilian pilot, known as the 'Magic Man', has ridden big winners around the globe and was entrusted with providing Japan with a first victory at the Royal meeting when receiving the leg-up aboard Noriyuki Hori's ace sprinter – who was sent off the 2-1 favourite for the final Group One of the week. Having been subject to persistent money since advertising his wellbeing in a recent Newmarket gallop, the six-year-old travelled through the contest in sublime style for Moreira. However, he met a determined rival in Lazzat in the closing stages and when the duo began to duel late into the piece, it was Jerome Reynier's French raider who came out on top in the international showdown for sprinting supremacy. 'We went into the race with a lot of confidence, the horse was so well in himself but unfortunately we bumped into a very good horse today,' said Moreira. 'Lazzat's form indicated he would be a danger and he had been winning impressively on his home ground. 'Halfway through I thought I had him done, but he just had another kick and kept attacking the line. I was closing up the gap but we just bumped into a good horse today and my horse ran really well. 'We thought we had a really good crack and unfortunately we just bumped into a really good horse. I can't complain, he tried his very best. 'It's a pleasure to be at a festival like this – of course finishing second is not the best result, but I still have to be happy with that.' While the Wathnan Racing team were able to celebrate feature race success for the headline signing from their pre-Ascot delve into the transfer market, they were also delighted with the performance of fellow new signing Flora Of Bermuda. Andrew Balding's admirable filly was narrowly denied by Inisherin at York on her return to action and in her first outing in the peacock blue and old gold silks, she again hit the frame with a brave third in the hands of PJ McDonald. 'She's run an absolute blinder and she was just a little bit free early,' said Wathnan's Richard Brown. 'She's run another very solid race, she's so consistent. I'd be hopeful that one of these might drop her way and she had some very good horses behind her. 'These two (Lazzat and Satono Reve) have obviously gone a long way clear, but she's finished best of the rest.'
