Falakeyah putting mile credentials to the test against Zarigana
The Owen Burrows-trained Falakeyah looked every inch a top-class filly in the making when dominating her rivals in the 10-furlong Pretty Polly at Newmarket, after which the Betfred Oaks at Epsom and the French equivalent were mooted as potential Classic targets.
However, with connections ultimately deciding against stepping up to a mile and a half at Epsom and the Prix de Diane also ruled out, the daughter of New Bay will instead drop back to a mile on the penultimate day of the Royal meeting after being supplemented for the Coronation at a cost of £46,000.
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
Angus Gold, racing manager for owner-breeders Shadwell, said: 'It was a hard decision to supplement, just because of the amount of money involved. I just felt when the entries for the race closed we'd be looking at a mile and a quarter at least for her given she had won over an extended mile on her debut.
'I said to Owen I was just trying to save money and that there was no point even entering her if we thought she was going to be running over further.'
While Gold admits to having doubts about how effective Falakeyah will be dropping back in trip, he is taking some confidence from the feedback of Shadwell's retained rider Jim Crowley.
'To Jim's credit, he kept saying every time he sat on her that she had a lot of speed and his first words to me having got off her at Newmarket were 'she'd have killed them over a mile'. He thought she'd have gone close in the Guineas had she run in that, so I had to take notice,' Gold added.
'Unfortunately we were going for the Prix de Diane but then she had a hold-up and we ran out of time. They now feel she's back to her best.
'We could have waited a month for the Falmouth but as she's well we've taken the chance.
'She likes to get on with things so that is probably contributing to the fact she looks like she's got a lot of speed.
'It's only her third race so we're still learning and I couldn't put my hand on my heart and say she's definitely a miler, but she has plenty of speed and we felt after discussing it this was worth a try.'
The trip is of no concern to French raider Zarigana, who has won four of her five starts for Francis-Henri Graffard in the colours of the late Aga Khan.
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
She was most recently awarded the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards' room after first past the post Shes Perfect was deemed to have caused sufficient interference for the placings to be revised – and while connections are hoping for a bold showing in Berkshire, they are taking nothing for granted.
Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan's French studs, said: 'Zarigana worked well last week, she's in good form and we've been very happy with her since the Pouliches.
'It is a competitive race and it's the first time she'll have to travel abroad and she can have moments where she gets quite worked up. It looks like it's going to be very hot as well, but she's got to get through all that as part of the test of being a Group One filly.
'She's very consistent – she's won four of her starts and was beaten a nose in the other one. This is a big test for her and she's got to maintain that form and hold it all together in the preliminaries and have luck in running and everything else.
'If there's any weakness it will be found out, but we're happy with her preparation and while she goes on anything, she's probably better on fast ground.'
Further strength in depth is added by Aidan O'Brien's Exactly, who was little over a length behind Zarigana when fourth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches last month, while the also-supplemented Kon Tiki puts her unbeaten record on the line for Jane Chapple-Hyam.
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