Alcohol Free provided a shock Saturday at Newmarket to defeat strong opposition and take the Darley July Cup (G1).
Jockey Rob Hornby made it a weekend to remember adding success in the Darley July Cup to his brilliant performance riding 16-1 Prosperous Voyage in defeating 1-7 favorite Inspiral in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1).
Alcohol Free, a dual Group 1 winner at a mile last season, was ninth in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot last month on her first start at six furlongs since her 2-year-old days.
Several of the sprinters that finished in front of her that day were running again at Newmarket, but the 14-1 chance coped much better with the strong six-furlong pace.
Sitting behind the front-running Naval Crown, Rob Hornby sent her to the front inside the final quarter.
Alcohol Free finished well to beat Naval Crown into second place 1 ½ lengths back, with Artorius, the Australian-trained challenger, staying on from off the pace to finish third. Time for the six furlongs on good to firm turf was 1:09.47.
Alcohol Free returned $32.80 in North American pools.
Trainer Andrew Balding's filly's biggest previous wins came last year at Goodwood in the Qatar Sussex Stakes, at Ascot in the Coronation Stakes (G1), and at Newmarket in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1).
Owned by J. C. Smith, Alcohol Free is 4-year-old filly by Coolmore's Irish-based stallion No Nay Never and was bred in Ireland by Churchtown House Stud from the Hard Spun mare Plying. This is the family of 1971 champion 2-year-old filly Numbered Account.
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