Trained by Richard Hannon, as was her Classic-winning dam Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}), Snow Lantern was second in her lone start at two. With Hannon making no secret of the level at which he regarded the filly, Snow Lantern won on seasonal debut at Newbury last April, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status. After finishing third as the favourite in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. at York, Snow Lantern was second to Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot before getting her Group 1 in the Falmouth over G1 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Alcohol Free and Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Snow Lantern was third behind Alcohol Free and the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G1 Sussex S. and fourth in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix du Moulin, and disappointed when last in the G1 Sun Chariot S. in October.

Snow Lantern's resulting foal will be bred on the reverse of the Frankel over Dubawi cross that has produced three stakes winners from 29 named foals, including last year's G1 Derby winner Adayar (GB) and Godolphin's G1 Jebel Hatta scorer Dream Castle (GB).

The Keswicks' advisor Ed Sackville said, “We felt that Snow Lantern has done her job. She's a Group 1 winner and we're aware that Dubawi isn't getting any younger and we're very keen to send her to Dubawi. It's kind of a no-brainer because the Derby winner was by Frankel out of a Dubawi mare. Physically, she'll suit Dubawi; she's a mare with plenty of size and scope.”

Sky Lantern was selected by Sackville for the Keswicks for €75,000 from Goffs Orby in 2011. She won the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at two and the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. at three. Sky Lantern's first three foals are winners, headed by Snow Lantern. Her 3-year-old colt First Emperor (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is unraced but is in training with Donnacha O'Brien, while her 2-year-old Kingman (GB) colt who sold to Oliver St Lawrence on behalf of Bahraini clients for 625,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1 is with John and Thady Gosden. Sky Lantern has a yearling colt by Kingman, is currently in foal to Frankel and will visit Snow Lantern's sire again this season.

Sackville said the Keswicks are focused on quality in building their commercial operation.

“The Keswick family have studied the business models of commercially successful studs and are seeking to replicate that with the emphasis on quality,” he said. “Keeping the fillies and selling the colts is the most recognizable way to achieve this.”

Sky Lantern isn't the only member of the Keswicks' boutique broodmare band at Rockcliffe Stud who will visit Frankel this season; she will be joined by Canton Queen (Ire) (Shamardal), a winning granddaughter of the champion filly Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) from the deep family of Classic winners Dylan Thomas (Ire), Homecoming Queen (Ire) and Serpentine (Ire). Canton Queen, like Sky Lantern, is currently in foal to Frankel.

The listed-winning and group-placed Pepita (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) is in foal to Kingman (GB) and set to visit him again, while the group-placed Black Cherry (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and her listed-placed daughter Little Rollright (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) are headed to Ireland to visit Dark Angel (Ire) and Kodiac (GB), respectively. Black Cherry is currently in foal to Night Of Thunder (Ire), while it will be the first mating for Little Rollright.

Also headed to Ireland for Coolmore sires are Marsh Hawk (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), dam of the winning and listed-placed Mohawk King (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}); and the three-time winning Tai Hang Dragon (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Marsh Hawk is in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB) and will visit No Nay Never, while Tai Hang Dragon is the reverse: she is currently in foal to No Nay Never and will visit Wootton Bassett.

The winning Pivotal (GB) mare Raincall (GB), a daughter of Australian Group 1 winner Lone Rock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) from a deep Group 1 family Down Under, is in foal to Mehmas (Ire) and visits Ardad (Ire) in 2022.

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Not seen in public until after Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) had run in all three of Europe's 2000 Guineas, the full-brother to the more stamina-infused Hukum (Ire) gave early indication of his innate ability on his debut at Leicester June 7 and shouted it loud 12 days later in a Newmarket novice. Demonstrative again with a four-length success in the latter track's Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. at the July Festival July 8, the bay did nothing to bank the flames of excitement with a 6 1/2-length verdict in the G3 Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood July 30. William Haggas has spoken of his desire to protect what he sees as a long-term project, but has had his hand forced by the manner of Baaeed's progression and this small and select affair will provide connections with a clearer picture of where they stand.

“He's going up another couple of grades and there's no point jumping the gun–let's see if he's up to it,” Angus Gold commented. “We're taking on a very good filly who is obviously a Group 1 winner already and very highly thought of. It's going to be a big test for him and we'll see if he can live up to the hype now. I'm told it's going to be nearly good ground. They might get a little bit of rain, but not too much. He's won on good-to-soft, so I don't think the ground will worry him unless they get a downpour and it goes heavy or something.”

Despite the visual and technical impression of Baaeed's successes, he has yet to meet a rival of the calibre of Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who holds the bragging rights of being the winner of one of the season's leading contests, the G1 Falmouth S. That July 9 Newmarket contest has thrown up the subsequent winners of the G1 Sussex S., G1 Prix Rothschild, G1 Nassau S., G2 Celebration Mile and G3 Atalanta S. with sheer class running through the form top to bottom. Rockcliffe Stud's TDN Rising Star, who was behind the Falmouth third Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) when rain intervened both in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation S. June 18 and the Sussex at Goodwood July 28, was supposed to be building up slowly to the G1 Sun Chariot S. later this month. Like Baaeed, she is here purely on the basis of her wellbeing and should make this a genuine clash with experience and the sex allowance in her favour.

Ballydoyle's contenders can never be discounted from these races, but Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) have to find significant improvement on their best efforts this term when third in the Aug. 15 G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and second in the June 15 G1 Queen Anne S., respectively.

That also applies to Godolphin's Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal), who has not at any time since exceeded the level of his promising success in the 2019 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere to any major degree. Even a confidence-boosting win in a soft renewal of the G3 Prix Messidor at Chantilly July 18 failed to have the desired effect, as he was a poor seventh in the Jacques le Marois and it will take all of Andre Fabre's considerable guile to conjure the requisite revival here.

Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard summed it up when saying, “Victor Ludorum ran below expectations last time, but pulled out fine afterwards and appears to be well in himself both physically and mentally. We have no real explanation for that run and would love to see him return to his best form here, although we are realistic about the task in front of him.”

Sisfahan Faces His Elders in Germany

Sunday's other top-level contest is the G1 Wettstar Grosser Preis von Baden, where Darius Racing's July 4 G1 Deutsches Derby hero Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) tackles the older horses headed by Godolphin's July 30 G3 Glorious S. scorer Passion and Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). One of Saeed bin Suroor's crew of improvers, the 5-year-old has won five of his last six starts on European turf and Polytrack and is lightly-raced and unexposed for his age. “Passion and Glory has been in excellent form since coming back to the UK this season,” his trainer said. “He deserves to take his chance at this level following a nice win at Goodwood last time. His best performances have been with give in the ground and it was soft at Baden-Baden earlier in the week, although it looks as though it will dry out for Sunday. He heads out there in good form and we are looking forward to seeing how he gets on in a big race like this.”

ParisLongchamp Card Full of Group Action

Back at ParisLongchamp, the G3 Prix la Rochette over seven furlongs for the 2-year-olds features a pair of Godolphin representatives trained either side of La Manche in New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Rebel Path (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}). Charlie Appleby handles the former, who beat the subsequent G2 Vintage S. winner Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when last seen in the Listed Pat Eddery S. at Ascot July 24.

He said, “He has done well since the Pat Eddery S. and a repeat of that effort will make him very competitive.”

Rebel Path, who was second to the smart Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) over six furlongs at Deauville Aug. 5 before going back to the same track and trip to get off the mark 19 days later, hails from the Andre Fabre stable successful eight times but not since Diamond Green (Fr) in 2003.

“Rebel Path has some good form under his belt, having run against strong opposition at Deauville on both his starts so far,” Lisa-Jane Graffard said. “This is a big test for him, stepping up in class and trip, but he is going the right way.”

James Ferguson saddles El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won a decent novice over this trip at Sandown July 28, while there are two unexposed fillies from the Jean-Claude Rouget and Francis-Henri Graffard stables respectively in Zelda (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) and Acer Alley (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}).

The G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange sees the return of TDN Rising Star John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) from his break, having finished third in the Listed Gala S. over this 10-furlong trip at Sandown July 2, and he takes on The Aga Khan's June 6 G1 Prix du Jockey Club fourth Saiydabad (Blame).

Ecurie Jean-Pierre Barjon's popular grey Wally (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr]) looks for a fourth pattern-race success in the 10-furlong trip G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte, while the G3 Prix Gladiateur sees George Strawbridge's 2018 G1 Prix du Cadran hero Call the Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) make his European comeback having last been seen finishing 11th in the Red Sea Turf H. at Riyadh Feb. 20.

Click here for the group fields.

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Only third behind Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) on unsuitably soft ground in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 8, David Ward's homebred is back on his favoured fast surface over the six-furlong trip of his July 10 Newmarket victory.

Trainer Ed Walker is happy that the stars have aligned for the 4-year-old and said, “I am quite surprised to be here really. We always wanted to come to the Sprint Cup, but historically we thought it would be unlikely given the horse's preference for good ground. It's a real bonus to be going into the race with conditions likely to be in his favour. It was a career highlight when he won the July Cup. It was great that he was able to show what he can really do, as I've always believed he is a truly exceptional horse.”

“He still ran a massive race at Deauville and ran better than he did in the really heavy conditions at Ascot on Champions Day last year. It was proper stamina-sapping ground in France, it was drying quite quickly and it was tacky. He coped with it and was bang there at the six-furlong pole–I think with the extra half-furlong and the conditions his stamina was really tested. He has trained great since France and came out of the race well. We've just freshened him up. He is a big horse but doesn't take a huge amount of work. He goes there in great shape. I think he is the best horse in the race and if he is in the same form that he was at Newmarket, he will prove that.”

Fifth in the July Cup and subsequently second in the seven-furlong G2 Lennox S. at Goodwood July 27, Godolphin's June 19 G3 Jersey S. winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) tries again with Charlie Appleby hoping he can bridge the gap to Starman.

“We have been very pleased with Creative Force's preparation. We thought it was a very respectable first run at this level in the July Cup, when he learned plenty about sprinting and we are hoping that a more polished performer will be turning up here,” he said. “James Doyle felt that he rode like a sprinter in the Lennox S. He hit the lids that day, was up in the van the whole way and possibly did a bit too much early on, so the return to six furlongs should suit.”

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) has turned around his fortunes with a confidence-restoring win in a five-furlong conditions race at Hamilton at the end of last month and a second in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at that distance Aug. 20. He has the ground he likes here and is equally at home over six, but more importantly comes into this on a high. That is not the case for Jason Goddard's Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who needs to bounce back from two surprisingly tame efforts this term including a latest 15th in the July Cup. Successful in last year's G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Richmond S., it is disappointing that he has run so far below form in 2021 and would be a major threat if able to regain his momentum.

2-Year-Olds on Display at Haydock

Haydock's card begins with the Listed Betfair Exchange Ascendant S. for 2-year-olds over a mile, where Godolphin are represented by the 2.1million gns Book 1 graduate Hafit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). He beat two subsequent winners including the TDN Rising Star Razzle Dazzle (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) on his debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket Aug. 6 and could be anything, but lying in wait is Dr. Ali Ridha's Aug. 20 Listed Stonehenge S. runner-up Power of Beauty (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}). Hafit's trainer Charlie Appleby has a line to that Hugo Palmer-trained colt through the Stonehenge winner Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), while Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's 9 1/2-length course-and-distance novice scorer Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is another of the quartet with abundant promise.

Kempton Hosts Group 3s

At Kempton, the feature is the G3 Unibet September S. over a mile and a half, where Shadwell's July 10 G3 Silver Cup and Aug. 14 G3 Geoffrey Freer S. winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) looks to continue his sequence under a three-pound penalty.

“This looks another nice opportunity for him, all being well, and he won around Kempton as a 2-year-old,” trainer Owen Burrows said of the 4-year-old, who missed the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville due to a dirty scope. “He has got the penalty again, but he had that at Newbury and we go there very hopeful. He did a little bit of work on Wednesday and we were very happy with him and there were no signs that he should not be running.”

Also on the card is the six-furlong G3 Sirenia S. for the juveniles, with Kevin Phillipart De Foy pitching in Bernard Havern's July 7 course-and-distance novice winner Scot's Grace (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). “I've been a bit unlucky, as she needs fast ground,” he explained. “She has had a couple of entries over the summer, but the ground has turned against her. She handled the track there first time out, so we thought this was worth taking a punt and see how she gets on in the race. I never put my fillies under too much pressure at home and we will learn a lot more on Saturday. She has improved a bit, but she will need to on Saturday.”

Hugo Palmer is represented by David Howden and Qatar Racing's Hierarchy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who has registered wins in novices over this trip at Wolverhampton Aug. 9 and at Salisbury Aug. 24. “His heart is in the right place and he seems to be improving as a 2-year-old,” he said. “He is showing the general public what he can do in the afternoon opposed to showing it in the morning, as he definitely saves his best for racing. He handles the surface, has a nice draw and has got the momentum behind him. He is very much a 2-year-old and though I'm not saying he will not make it at three, he would need to grow and develop.”

Festival Continues at Baden-Baden

There is also pattern-race action at Baden-Baden, with Darius Racing's Aug. 1 G1 Preis der Diana runner-up Isfahani (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}) taking on the likes of Team Valor's Hanover listed scorer Loveisthehigherlaw (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in the 12-furlong G2 T von Zastrow Stutenpreis. In the six-furlong G3 Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche, another Darius Racing representative in Rubaiyat (Fr) (Areion {Ger}) is a leading contender based on his success in Hanover's Apr. 25 Listed Waldpfad Cup reverting to sprinting. Runner-up on that occasion, Jaber Abdullah's Majestic Colt (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) has since won the G3 Silberne -Peitsche at Cologne May 24 and July 2 G3 Grosser Preis von LOTTO Hamburg and finished fourth behind Dibujaba (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in the Aug. 8 Listed Hoppegartener Fleiger-Preis.

A Sextet for the Moulin

Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp has attracted six, with Jim Bolger opting to withdraw Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). Shadwell's unbeaten Baaeed (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is certain to occupy favouritism based on his impressive successes in Newmarket's Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. July 8 and the G3 Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood July 30, with fellow British raider Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) standing in his way. Rockcliffe Stud's 'TDN Rising Star' captured the star-studded G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July 9 before finishing third in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 28 and trainer Richard Hannon has been forced to saddle her with her signals all vibrant since that race.

“Hopefully this race will show her in a better light–I think she could have been closer at Goodwood,” he said. “It's a very good race and we'll find out where we stand. We can always go back to fillies-only company in the Sun Chariot after this. Baaeed has looked very good and I'm sure he'll take a lot of beating. He travels very well in his races and in some of his races he's looked unbeatable. I'm sure it will be a good race and I'm looking forward to it–we have nothing to lose.”

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Runner-up to Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the mud in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18, the 6-1 shot was more settled this time buried against the far rail in mid-division with that rival in front on that side. Eased out by Sean Levey inside the final two furlongs, the grey daughter of the high-class Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) finished off strongly up the rising ground to overwhelm Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the dying yards of a pulsating race. At the line, there was half a length between her and that rival who had been third in the Coronation, with the 5-2 favourite Alcohol Free a neck back in third the same margin ahead of the best of the older fillies and mares, Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).

“From my point of view, it was fairly straightforward, as the main thing is that she had to settle,” Levey commented. “We came out of the pocket late enough, but I always had the filly and she picked up up the hill and hit the line strong. She's always been exciting and with her breeding, it was very easy for everyone to get ahead of themselves a little bit, but she's proven now what we thought of her was true.”

Introduced over seven furlongs at Ascot in July, Snow Lantern was a promising second to the subsequent G2 May Hill S. third Zabeel Queen (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) but was not seen again until making a successful return at the expense of future 'Rising Star' Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a Newbury maiden over this trip Apr. 18. Only third behind Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. again at this distance at York May 14, the homebred was too free on that occasion and still showed signs of that tendency during the early part of the Coronation before putting in a strong finish to gain the silver medal. Having met traffic late on in that feature, it was to be expected that with normal improvement on more suitable ground she could turn the tables on Alcohol Free here, but the betting suggested not, as Jeff Smith's runner was heavily-backed.

While Snow Lantern settled ideally with so much cover, that proved a double-edged sword with Sean Levey trapped against the fence with a clutch of fillies gathered around him. Up ahead, Oisin Murphy had taken the initiative on the favourite, who was comfortable on the front end, with Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) pinned on the rail directly ahead of the eventual winner and Mother Earth sticking close. The previously unbeaten Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) drifted from the centre to join Alcohol Free by halfway and two out, the main sufferers of the clustered pack were Snow Lantern, Primo Bacio and Lady Bowthorpe, with the latter forced to angle far wide for her customary potent late effort. Once in the clear, there were two lengths for the Hannon filly to make up on Alcohol Free and Mother Earth a furlong from home, but the combination of Frankel's power and her dam's trademark deadly acceleration saw her cut down her peers in impressive fashion.

Added Levey: “They went a nice pace and the only thing I didn't expect was that they would come far side, but Oisin [Murphy] thought it would be a benefit to go there, and so I was crying to get out of the pocket. I followed Pretty Gorgeous and I was further back than I wanted to be while he [Murphy] was getting a dream run. Ryan [Moore, on Mother Earth] came off the bridle way before I did and I did think it would be very hard to get out of there. I lost a couple of lengths swinging around them, but she got enough momentum to go by them. Her mother wasn't the most straightforward and with that Frankel in her, she is very eager to please–it is hard to keep a lid on her and you can't force her or she could go the other way.

“They've done a massive job on her at home and she's getting into a great routine–she settled as well as she ever has there and it's all come to fruition now. The way she came in after the race, she'd learnt a little bit and so should keep progressing.”

Richard Hannon has made no secret of his belief in the winner and his primary feeling was no surprise.

“It's a relief more than anything,” he said. “Sky Lantern was a freak, as she wasn't meant to be that good, but this one has the pedigree and so has always created a lot of interest and pressure. After York, I felt she had to do something and I was so pleased and disappointed at the same time after Royal Ascot. Today was an extremely good race and a real championship race, so to win the way she did was great.”

Despite all her achievements, the 2013 renewal of this race was one that got away for Sky Lantern after she had been carried across the track when narrowly beaten by Elusive Kate (Elusive Quality). For Hannon, there was a sense of justice in the outcome of this year's contest.

“Elusive Kate was a very good filly, but there was a score to settle,” he added. “The dam was brilliant, but I always thought that this filly was as good if not better and she'll get 10 [furlongs]. She is in the [July 29 G1] Nassau [at Goodwood] and the [July 28 G1] Sussex [at Goodwood] and the [Aug. 18 G1] Juddmonte International [at York], but that was her day and there is no pressure now. She can go everywhere and we can enjoy it–anything else now would be great. As far as a mile is concerned, I think if it's not broken don't fix it and she'd be taking on different animals over a mile and a quarter so we'll see.”

Sky Lantern was an earlier developer than her daughter, winning the G1 Moyglare Stud S. in six starts as a juvenile which also included an unlucky trip in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Snow Lantern is thus far the only filly from six foals out of the G1 1000 Guineas, the G1 Coronation S. and the G1 Sun Chariot S. winner. Her other produce include the 2-year-old First Emperor (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and 2020 and 2021 sons of Kingman (GB).

A half-sister to four black-type performers including the G3 Queen's Vase-winning stayer Shanty Star (Ire) (Hector Protector) and the G3 Round Tower S.-winning sprinter Arctic (Ire) (Shamardal), she is also the third dam of the talented Second Thought (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who was a triple listed scorer and runner-up in the G2 Sandy Lane S. Sky Lantern is a granddaughter of Negligent (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), the champion 2-year-old filly in England in 1989 courtesy of her win in the G3 Rockfel S. who was later third in her 1000 Guineas.

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
TATTERSALLS FALMOUTH S.-G1, £215,500, Newmarket, 7-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:35.93, g/f.
1–SNOW LANTERN (GB), 124, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sky Lantern (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Ire, $1,252,123), by Red Clubs (Ire)
2nd Dam: Shawanni (GB), by Shareef Dancer
3rd Dam: Negligent (Ire), by Ahonoora (GB)
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £122,210. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1, $312,406. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mother Earth (Ire), 124, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £46,333.
3–Alcohol Free (Ire), 124, f, 3, No Nay Never–Plying, by Hard Spun. (€40,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV). O-J C Smith; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £23,188.
Margins: HF, NK, NK. Odds: 6.00, 5.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: Lady Bowthorpe (GB), Primo Bacio (Ire), Just Beautiful (GB), Pretty Gorgeous (Fr), Lavender's Blue (Ire), Indie Angel (Ire), Queen Power (Ire), Saffron Beach (Ire), Illykato (GB), Champers Elysees (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Alcohol Free's trainer Andrew Balding added,  “It looks a proper race, but Alcohol Free is in good form and we hope she'll be as effective on the faster conditions as she was on the heavy ground at Ascot. We were delighted with her performance in the Coronation, so we go to Newmarket full of hope. We're renewing rivalry with a couple and there are some very good older fillies in the race as well–it's a proper Group 1 race.”

'TDN Rising Star' Snow Lantern was too free, met trouble in running and still finished just 1 1/2 lengths off Alcohol Free in the Coronation so it is understandable that the ever-bullish Richard Hannon is in confident mood. Her defeat at the hands of the impressive Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. over this trip at York May 14 has been put down to a tendency to over-race, but with the ground riding fast on the July Course and no obvious pacemakers here Rockcliffe Stud's prized homebred will have to be far more tractable. “The winner won well at Ascot, but we look forward to taking her on again in the Falmouth,” he said. “We didn't really have the rub of the green that day. Hopefully the ground will be better this time, which will help our filly.”

Primo Bacio has been off the track since beating Snow Lantern at York in May, having been withdrawn from the Coronation Stakes on account of the testing conditions. David Ward's bay, who was taken out of the Coronation after the deluge, has to prove that her York win was no aberration but her lethal turn of acceleration will be valuable in what could turn out to be a tactical affair. “It was a really difficult decision to take her out–we didn't know that she would not have liked that ground, because she's by Awtaad who loved the mud,” trainer Ed Walker admitted. “Lots of people were questioning my decision on that basis, but knowing the filly I just didn't feel it was right. She is a good-moving filly with a really smart turn of foot and I think running her on a stiff mile in real bottomless ground and putting a massive emphasis on stamina just wasn't right. Andrea Atzeni got on seriously well with her at York and he rides her again, so that's good news. I've known Andrea for a long time and use him a lot when available, and he's a brilliant rider. He's got that cool and it suits a filly like that really well.”

Dominant over Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Alcohol Free when the ground was riding similarly slick in the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas, Ballydoyle's Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is back in action again. Her two subsequent efforts when second and third respectively on unsuitably soft going in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp May 16 and the Coronation showed her to be as game as she is classy and she remains unexposed on this trip and ground. “This is a very good and deep renewal of the Falmouth and it will take plenty of winning,” Ryan Moore said. “My filly obviously ran well when third to Alcohol Free and Snow Lantern in the Coronation S. last time, but I'd like to think she is a bit better than she showed there. Her 1000 Guineas win and subsequent second in France clearly mark her out as a high-class operator and she acts on quick and deep ground, so she is versatile on that score with more rain about.”

There is little between Indie Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) and Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) on the form of the Duke of Cambridge June 16, where the Cheveley Park's mercurial grey had things fall into place. Supplemented for this, Indie Angel will need to prove that her Royal Ascot career-best was not a one-off. “If it had closed a day after the Duke of Cambridge, rather than the day before, she would have been in it,” the Stud's managing director Chris Richardson said. “She bounces off quick ground, so we're just hoping there's no more rain. She's in good form. John [Gosden] is very happy with her and hopefully Frankie [Dettori] can work his magic again.”

In the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. here May 2, it was Lady Bowthorpe and Queen Power who had Indie Angel's measure and with the former going on to chase home Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. May 15 she narrowly sets the standard.

In the card's six-furlong G2 Duchess of Cambridge S., there is a fascinating rematch between the June 18 G3 Albany S. one-two-three Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) with this ground offering a vastly contrasting scenario. With the Royal meeting only just surviving an inspection on that day, it is impossible to know how the trio or the well-beaten 'TDN Rising Star' Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will perform here but it is still a learning process for the raw juvenile fillies at this stage.

Interestingly, Thursday's G2 Tattersalls July S. was fought out by a trio who swerved the fast ground prevalent on the first three days of Royal Ascot and it will be fascinating to see how the fillies fare with the Albany run on slow ground. Sandrine's trainer Andrew Balding said, “I've been very happy with her since Ascot. Ground conditions will be very different and that's a question mark, but she seems in good form and I thought she was very impressive in the Albany, so fingers crossed for a good run.”

Click here for the group fields.

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Hannon said of the daughter of 2013 G1 1000 Guineas winner and Falmouth runner-up Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}), “She hasn't won a 1000 Guineas like her mum but she is going there hopefully to win where her mother didn't but should have and it would be nice if she did just that. She is as fresh as a daisy. She is in good nick and is good enough to win a race like this. There is a score to be settled there and it would give us some sort of closure.”

Second when unveiled at Ascot in late July of 2020, the grey earned her 'TDN Rising Star' badge with a tally at Newbury in a maiden stakes on Apr. 18. Kept out of the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, she picked up some black-type when third in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. at York on May 14 prior to her Coronation effort. Coronation S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never is likely to turn up in the Falmouth.

“She was back to her best at Ascot,” Hannon continued. “She came with a lovely run, she just got tight for room for a little bit but she ran a lovely race and it showed you could put a line through the York effort. She hasn't been thrown in the deep end every time this year or last year but we are there now and she is able to compete at that level, she just needs to get a bit of luck.”

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“Chindit came out of the race brilliantly, he was in the pen most of the next day and has cantered this morning and he's fine,” said Hannon on Tuesday.

“His form is solid and it looks like he's going to be suited by the test of the Guineas. To me it looked as if he was crying out for a mile.”

His twice-raced stablemate Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) graduated impressively on the Newbury card and earned 'TDN Rising Star' status, but she will not contest the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

Hannon said on his website, “Following a discussion with connections, Snow Lantern will not be taking up her engagement in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and will instead be aimed for either the G3 Musidora S. or the Listed Michael Seeley S. at York's May meeting.

“With the Michael Seeley being run over a mile and the Musidora over a mile and a quarter, both of these races will give us options and gives her an extra couple of weeks.

“Either race will give us a good guide on where we stand for the rest of the season with her too. She holds entries in the Epsom Oaks and Prix de Diane, and these engagements will be dependant on her York performance.

“There are plenty of options coming up for her. She is a special filly, with a beautiful pedigree and has already proved an exciting prospect for her owner-breeders, Rockcliffe Stud.”

Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), successful in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S., will be kept at sprint distances after running 10th in the G3 Fred Darling S.

“She just didn't stay, so we'll go sprinting,” said Hannon. “I must admit I thought she was sure to stay, but she clearly didn't.

“I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong, it happens often enough. There are still plenty of races she can go for and she's already won a Super Sprint, a Group 3 and a sales race at York already and the owners have had a ball. There are many good days left in her yet.”

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Trainer Richard Hannon was keen to plead the case to the owner-breeders to take a chance in the Newmarket Classic and said, “She's been working great and I always thought she was a very good filly. She's very highly-strung, but behaved lovely there and I haven't enjoyed watching a race like that for a long time. I was expecting her to be keen, but she did it beautifully and Sean said her stride pattern is not normal. Hopefully she's a little bit special and it is more relief that I feel today. I'm very tempted to go for the Guineas–there's only one and although the breeder had said they don't want to go into the deep end I'll discuss it with them next week. The mare won two group 1s on the Rowley Mile and she's a very clever filly who works things out for herself.”

Snow Lantern, who was second on debut to the subsequent G2 May Hill S. third Zabeel Queen (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) at Ascot in July, emerged as a live contender for the Guineas during a week where the established trials were in some part overshadowed by races outside of the Pattern. With the colt Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) impressing in a Newmarket novice on Tuesday and the 1000 Guineas betting currently dominated by a Ballydoyle filly who has only a 2-year-old maiden win to her name, this could be a year when those with the leading juvenile form play second-fiddle to the emerging forces. Hannon also saddled the proven Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in the card's G3 Fred Darling S., but his response when asked to compare the two was illuminating. “Happy Romance has won a group 3, but Snow Lantern is by Frankel out of Sky Lantern and has the lot,” he said. “How far she goes we'll see throughout the year, but if she goes to the top it wouldn't surprise me.”

Sky Lantern had considerably more experience by the time she went to post for her Guineas, having won the G1 Moyglare Stud S., and held her form into the autumn when adding the G1 Sun Chariot S. to her tally which also included the G1 Coronation S. She is a half to four pattern-race performers with the stayer Shanty Star (Ire) (Hector Protector) and sprinter Arctic (Ire) (Shamardal) successful in group 3 company. She is a granddaughter of Negligent (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), the champion 2-year-old filly in England in 1989 courtesy of her win in the G3 Rockfel S. who was later third in her 1000 Guineas. After Snow Lantern there is the 2-year-old colt First Emperor (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and a yearling son of Kingman (GB).

1st-Newbury, £10,000, Mdn, 4-18, 3yo, 8fT, 1:38.49, gd.
SNOW LANTERN (GB), f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Sky Lantern (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, G1SW-Ire, MG1SW-Eng, $1,252,123), by Red Clubs (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Shawanni (GB), by Shareef Dancer
     3rd Dam: Negligent (Ire), by Ahonoora (GB)
O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $10,033. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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