Without question the star older filly or mare miler of the European season so far, Godolphin's Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) heads to post for the Group 1 win that seems a mere formality in Friday's Tattersalls 250th Year Falmouth S. at Newmarket.
Despite the rain-softened ground taking the edge off the Andre Fabre project at Royal Ascot last time, the homebred still managed to readily outclass smart opponents in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. over this trip June 15 and underline the quality she had so flagrantly displayed when taking the G3 Dahlia S. over nine furlongs at the other track here May 1.
“She's been good since Ascot and has travelled over to Newmarket well,” her trainer said. “The drying ground should not be a problem to her. If all goes well, she should run a good race. There's no reason the ground should inconvenience her, even though most of her form is on soft. She is by Shamardal and most of his horses like fast. She is top-class and top-class horses like her should enjoy nice ground, they usually do. The course should be in good condition after all the rain, it should have a good covering of grass.”
Fabre was playing down the bookmakers's stance at placing her at odds-on for the female feature of the July festival and added, “The ground and course aren't a worry, just the other opponents. I don't think this race looks any stronger on paper than the one she won at Newmarket earlier in the season, there were lots of good horses and Group 1 winners in that.”
Faster ground than at the Royal meeting will also help Godolphin's second string Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was third to Usherette in the Duke of Cambridge having previously won the Listed Hamilton S. over this trip at York May 12.
“Always Smile is a very tough and consistent filly who is working well. I was pleased with her run at Ascot and drying ground will suit,” Saeed bin Suroor said. “She always tries very hard–she's not a big filly, but she has a big heart. She has worked well and we're looking to see a good run from her again.”
The stable are also responsible for Very Special (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who made such an impact during the Carnival when winning the Feb. 4 G2 Cape Verdi and Mar. 3 G2 Balanchine before finishing sixth in the G1 Dubai Turf three weeks later.
“This will be the first run back for Very Special in the UK following a successful campaign in Dubai. She goes into the race in good form and will appreciate the conditions,” her trainer added.
Last year's winner Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) will also appreciate this slicker surface after finishing sixth in the June 14 G1 Queen Anne S. when attempting to repeat her 2015 success at Royal Ascot in the G2 Windsor Castle S. Previously third to Usherette in the Dahlia, she needs to regain her for of last summer to make inroads against the French filly.
“Amazing Maria won this race last year and has been fine since Royal Ascot. The current fast ground should suit her much better than what she has been encountering so far this season,” trainer David O'Meara commented. “It would be a big statement to say that she is still improving at the age of five, but I think that I have got her in similar form to what she was at this time last year. She's got some ground to make up on Usherette from when they met in the Dahlia, but that was over nine furlongs on softish ground and it was her first run of the year. She is much better over a mile on fast ground and, although I couldn't say that she will beat Usherette, I am sure that the two will finish much closer on Friday.”
Aidan O'Brien relies on Susan Magnier's G1 1000 Guineas third Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was unlucky when also filling that spot in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot three weeks ago and represents the Classic generation which did so well in the Eclipse on Saturday.
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