A surprise result in Friday's Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes saw Ralph Beckett trainee Prosperous Voyage get the better of the talented Inspiral to secure her first Group 1 victory at Newmarket's July course.
A small field lined up for the Group 1, largely due to the presence of Inspiral who had dominated the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and was most people's banker for the whole weekend.
The pace set from the start was a steady one. Prosperous Voyage took up the early running with Rob Hornby setting steady fractions on the July course's straight mile. Rob Hornby, who had been so unlucky when losing the ride on Westover in the Irish Derby, would have been itching to get a Group 1 under his belt.
“It's crazy isn't it how things can change,” Hornby told racingpost.com. “I'm just so pleased for the filly and the whole team. It's bonkers isn't it? I'm in a very privileged position thanks to Ralph and the owners and connections, to be riding in these Group 1s is where all jockeys want to be and days like this make everything worthwhile.”
Entering the closing stages of the race, Inspiral the 1/7 favorite crept alongside and briefly passed Prosperous Voyage, as did Sandrine. All looked to be going well for Frankie Dettori and his reunification with John Gosden.
However the slightly longer trip of the Falmouth Stakes appeared to tell for Inspiral's challenge as she weakened in the latter stages. The same couldn't be said for Prosperous Voyage who found a second wind the further she went.
In the end Prosperous Voyage ran through the line strongly to secure a comfortable victory and turn the tables on Inspiral.
According to racingpost.com, Inspiral is the joint shortest-priced runner to be beaten in a group race in Britain or Ireland since the organzation's database began in 1988.
Inspiral's trainer, John Gosden, later said: “It's quite tight between Ascot and the July meeting, this was just a little bit too tight for her. She certainly didn't reproduce her form.”
WOW, What a shock, Prosperous Voyage turns over the unbeaten odds on favourite Inspiral. An unbelievable ride from Rob Hornby and a great training performance from Ralph Beckett to win the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes.
@ChampionsSeries @RalphBeckett @rob_hornby18 pic.twitter.com/dkiZAUlwYv
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 8, 2022
The post Prosperous Voyage Shocks In Falmouth; Rob Hornby Rides First British Group 1 Winner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
