Top Class Falmouth And Cherry Hinton In Prospect

Nine fillies and mares have stood their ground for the #200,000 UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes (Group 1), the highlight of the opening day of the Ritz Club July Festival at Newmarket on Wednesday, July 12, including four multiple Group 1 winners. Most notable among these is Soviet Song, who is chasing a record-breaking third consecutive victory in the mile contest.

Three other Group 1 winners remain engaged at the five-day stage - Alexander Goldrun, who finished runner-up to Soviet Song a year ago and who registered a second successive victory in the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1) at the Curragh last weekend; Peeress, who was third in this race 12 months ago and took the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) earlier this season; and Nannina, who proved herself the best three-year-old filly over a mile this year when running away with the Coronation Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot on her latest start.

The five-day confirmations are completed by Cape Columbine, Musicanna, Nasheej, Rajeem and Short Dance.

In the day´s other Pattern race, the #70,000 Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes (Group 2), a high class entry of 14 two-year-old fillies has been received, including two impressive Royal Ascot winners - Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) heroine, Gilded, and the Albany Stakes (Group 3) scorer, Sander Camillo. Both look out of the top drawer, while the Albany runner-up, Silk Blossom, has also been entered, as has Alderney, a smooth winner on her debut at York on June 17 for trainer Michael Jarvis.

Others to take the eye include the unbeaten Hope´N´Charity for trainer Clive Cox, and impressive maiden winners Adaptation, Alzerra, Divine Right and Indian Ink. Gaudeamus, the smooth winner of a Listed Race at the Curragh last time for trainer Jim Bolger, is one of two Irish-trained entries, the other being John Joseph Murphy´s New Spirit.

Trainer Barry Hills could be represented in both Pattern contests, with Silk Blossom potentially aiming for a rematch with her Albany Stakes conqueror, Sander Camillo, in the Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes, and Short Dance heading for the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes.

Silk Blossom made a winning debut over five furlongs of Newmarket´s Rowley Mile course in April, defeating Tarkamara by a length and a quarter, before finishing one and a half lengths runner-up in the six-furlong Albany Stakes from an unfavourable draw.

Charlie Hills, assistant trainer to his father Barry, revealed: 'She´s come out of her Ascot race very well and looks terrific. The draw was an absolute killer at Ascot and she ran a tremendous race.

'She´s in the Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes but she´s not a definite runner yet. It´s one of a number of nice races coming up so we´ll have a look at the race, then Dad will have a discussion with the owner and go from there, but she´s in terrific form.'

Short Dance could bid to get her season back on track after disappointing when 13th of 15 to Nightime in the Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas on heavy ground at the Curragh on May 28.

The Khalid Abdulla-owned filly had been impressive when winning a soft ground mile Listed contest at York nine days earlier and was just over a length and a half third to Nasheej on her seasonal bow in the Group Three Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury in April.

Hills reported: 'Short Dance could go to the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes. It looks a bit of a tall order but she´s in good nick and hopefully might get a place.

'She had two quick races before the Curragh and it was only a week after she won at York, so we took a bit of a chance and it didn´t pay off. We´ve given her a break since and she´s working nicely enough.'

Prosser Delighted With Newmarket Ground

Newmarket´s Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser, who is aiming for ground just on the good side of Good-to-Firm for the start of the three-day Ritz Club July Festival on Wednesday (12th July), is delighted with the current situation on the July Course.

On Friday morning he said:

'We´re racing on virgin ground next week on the far side of the track which has been well watered over the last couple of days and I have to say that it´s in great nick. There´s a lovely covering of grass and it´s now pretty much where I want it for next Wednesday, just marginally better than Good-to-Firm.

'We´ve missed most of the rain so far this week and though we may get a few showers this weekend, they´re not likely to amount to a great deal. The forecast for next week is for high pressure to start building again and it looks like we´ll be in for some great weather for our biggest summer race meeting of the year.

'Soviet Song´s bid to make history in the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes on Wednesday and judgement day for the three Aussie sprinters in Friday´s Darley July Cup are undoubtedly the highlights to look forward to on the track, but I´m sure that it will be top-class racing throughout the three days. With over #1.28m in prize money on offer, almost double what it was five years ago, you´d be disappointed if it wasn´t!'