Group One Falmouth Stakes Guide 2022

Andy Smith | @AndySmithRacing

Newmarket (July) - July 07 2022
Newmarket (July) 14:35
3(5)
Frankie Dettori

Inspiral

J: Frankie Dettori
T: John & Thady Gosden
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 121
Days: 21

A wonderfully talented mare for the Gosdens, Inspiral was unbeatable last season. Turning out 4 times as a juvenile she looked invincible.

Scoring her maiden on the July course last summer, she quickly moved on to bigger and better things. Winning a listed race in fine style over 7 furlongs in decisive fashion.

Moved up to a mile off the back of that and taken to group 2 company she again took a major step forward. Sent off at odds of 2/9 she won with bundles in hand and could be eased down at the finish.

After leaving Prosperous Voyage in her wake at Doncaster, she was sent for the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket to round out the season. Prosperous Voyage again filled the 2nd place spot and eventual 1000 Guineas winner Cachet back in 3rd.

A minor setback this season meant Inspiral missed her date with the 1000 Guineas but she returned at Ascot in fine form. Easily dispatching a field of smart fillies and drawing further away at the finish.

She looks likely to maintain her unbeaten record here and looks set to have a dominant career as a miler.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
07/10/23NMK8GF9-51
13/08/23DEA8GS9-21
02/08/23GOO8Sft9-75
20/06/23ASC8Gd8-132
15/10/22ASC8GS9-06
Newmarket (July) - July 07 2022
Newmarket (July) 14:35
1(4)
Richard Kingscote

Primo Bacio

J: Richard Kingscote
T: Ed Walker
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 107
Days: 23

It took Primo Bacio a while to find her feet racing. Three unsuccessful outings saw her finally break her maiden at the fourth time of asking over 7 furlongs on the all-weather.

Returning as a 3 year old she was sent off a massive price for the Fred Darling Stakes but ran a stormer to be 4th and only beaten 2.5 lengths by Alcohol Free.

Dropped in grade and moved up in trip off the back of that saw her handily win a listed race with bundles in hand. The step up in trip brought out improvement.

A decent 5th in this race last year followed but she struggled to lie up in group company thereafter. A close defeat in France, she then found herself well outclassed in better races. She hasn’t returned in the best of form this season either.

Coming last when sent off favourite for a listed race at Goodwood, she shaped like she desperately needed the run. Last seen in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Ascot she ran well to be a never nearer 3rd. Staying on well in the closing stages.

If fully tuned she can put in a good showing but doesn’t look to be the same class as Inspiral.

Newmarket (July) - July 07 2022
Newmarket (July) 14:35
2(3)
Aurelien Lemaitre

Sibila Spain

J: Aurelien Lemaitre
T: Christopher Head
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 111
Days: 61

An interesting daughter of Frankel who’s trained over in France by Christopher Head. An impressive debut saw her bolt up on deep ground over 10 furlongs by a dazzling 9 lengths. She easily backed that up next time out when nudged up slightly in trip.

A decent showing in group 1 company saw her narrowly defeated, coming a close 4th. She filled the same spot in the Prix De Diane next time out and again wasn’t beaten far.

Dropped in grade off the back of that she scored smartly at prohibitive odds to score a listed race.

Rounding out the season with a decent outing in the Prix de l’Opera to be 7th. Put away for the winter off the back of that she came back to racing over a mile and shaped well to be 4th behind the Revenant. Kept at a mile she got up late to score a group 2 nicely.

At her best on soft ground, she skipped her engagement in the Coronation Cup as the ground was too fast for her.

Connections will be praying for plenty of rain to give her a chance.

Newmarket (July) - July 07 2022
Newmarket (July) 14:35
4(1)
Rob Hornby

Prosperous Voyage

J: Rob Hornby
T: Ralph Beckett
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 112
Days: 21

Despite being beaten on debut, Prosperous Voyage improved for experience and scored at the second time of asking in maiden company.

She failed in defying her penalty in novice company but subsequently ran well to be placed in a group 3 over 7 furlongs at Goodwood.

Moving up to a mile for her last two runs of the season brought out some serious improvement and she ran storming races to be 2nd to Inspiral in the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile.

Returning to action as a 3 year old she was a large price for the 1000 Guineas but ran a career best to only be beaten a neck by Cachet.

With that impressive run in the books, she looked to have a good chance in the Coronation Cup but failed to get involved and only came home in 9th.

She’s shown she can be effective over a mile and might be better suited to returning to a straight track.

Newmarket (July) - July 07 2022
Newmarket (July) 14:35
5(2)
David Probert

Sandrine

J: David Probert
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 108
Days: 21

After an impressive debut over 6 furlongs at Kempton last March, Sandrine was immediately moved up in grade and won the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last year on deep ground in convincing fashion.

She took another step forward at this meeting last year when confirming her talent and winning a group 2 smartly, this time handling rattling fast ground. She just failed to notch her fourth win of the campaign when being beaten by Zain Claudette in the Lowther Stakes.

A solid final run of the season saw her come a respectable 3rd to Tenebrism in the Cheveley Park Stakes. Returning to action as a 3 year old she hasn’t been able to show the same level of form over a mile as she did as a sprinter last year.

Coming 5th in the 1000 Guineas on her first outing was a decent run but she didn’t have the pace to go after the front four home.

Last seen being well beaten by Inspiral in the Coronation Cup, she never really made her presence felt and languished in mid field all race.

She looks to have a mountain to climb to reverse that form and it’s not yet certain if a mile is really her trip.