Falakeyah added to Coronation field for Zarigana clash
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.
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A granddaughter of the Aga Khan super mare Zarkava, Zarigana arrived at the Royal meeting looking to enhance her lofty reputation after winning the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, albeit via the stewards' room, at ParisLongchamp last month. However, the 6-4 favourite met a determined rival in Joseph Murphy's Cercene and despite edging ahead close home, gave back that advantage with a little interest in the dying strides as the raiding French team had to settle for second on this occasion. 'I need to buy a pair of blinkers, probably,' quipped Graffard to questions about Zarigana's attitude late in the day. 'It was very interesting what the jockey (Mickael Barzalona) said, he said she travelled really nicely, easily on the bridle, but as soon as she hit the front she completely changed in her attitude and threw her head up. 'It's very frustrating, but we try our best with her. She's a very talented filly and she didn't disgrace herself. You always think you can win easily and she has the ability to win easily, but we didn't get the job done today.' After suffering only the second defeat of her career, connections were refusing to be too downhearted, with the regally-bred filly one of two for the Graffard-Aga Khan Stud team to hit the crossbar in Friday's Group One events. Graffard added: 'I am lucky she is owned by a fantastic breeding operation and she has earned her place there. We don't need to put a pair of blinkers on her – she has earned her place at stud. She has a lot of ability and she will produce fantastic stock that will come here and beat everybody. 'It's very hard to be competitive here, firstly, and to win here is even harder. You come with very talented horses, but today I think we can't complain. We have two fillies placed in Group Ones (Zarigana and Rayevka in the Commonwealth Cup) and they earned their places at stud, and so for the operation it is very positive.' Back in third was Aidan O'Brien's January, who after twice chasing home 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower as a two-year-old was back to her best following a below-par return in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last month. 'She ran OK, it was a little bit messy early, the race, but Ryan said she ran well, so we're happy and we think she will come forward a little bit. 'Maybe one of the fillies' races at Newmarket will be next for her, something like that.'
