Dubai: Godolphin’s Certify returns to her happy hunting ground at Newmarket to contest what looks to be an ultra-competitive renewal of the Qipco Falmouth Stakes (G1), the second day’s highlight of the July Festival.
Certify started her career with a pair of exciting victories at the July course in 2012 which included a victory over Sky Lantern in the Group 3 Solera Stakes, before she also landed the Group 1 Shadwell Fillies Mile at the track.
She made two appearances during the Carnival in Dubai before underperforming in the Group 2 Cambridge Stakes at Ascot where she could only finish 12th of 14.
Certify faces seven rivals headed by four-time Group 1 scorer Sky Lantern, the fast improving Integral and Coronation Stakes victor Rizeena, as she bids to maintain her unbeaten Newmarket record. “I was disappointed with Certify’s run at Royal Ascot,” her trainer Charlie Appleby told the Godolphin website. “We were happy with her preparation for that race and we have no excuses for her.
“She has come out of that race well and we felt that these race conditions suited her — she has a good record at Newmarket and likes racing against a small field.”
Sky Lantern was denied victory in last year’s Falmouth Stakes when it was thought that she had suffered significant interferance from Elusive Kate, who the stewards failed to penalise. She could only finish fifth behind Integral in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes on her seasonal debut, but her jockey Richard Hughes has defended that performance. “Her form’s better than that,” he told ‘At The Races.’ “She was a little bit big, she’ll come on for the run, but she’ll have to.”
Trainer Richard Hannon added: “Sky Lantern went to Royal Ascot a bit ring rusty but we are very happy with her since and she worked very well on Saturday morning.
“We will just have to find out on Friday if she has improved enough to beat Integral, as Integral may have improved too. She’s a very good filly and so are we.
“What happened last year was not very satisfying but that’s racing I suppose and of course we would love to win the trophy this year.”
Clive Brittain’s Rizeena will be partnered by leading French jockey Olivier Peslier for the first time as she bids to build on her recent Ascot success.
The Falmouth Stakes is the fourth race in the QIPCO British Champions Series Fillies & Mares division, which also includes the forthcoming Nassar Stakes (Aug 2), Yorkshire Oaks (Aug 21) and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Oct 18).
