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Home / News / Giofra victorious but Kate shines‏ in Falmouth

Giofra victorious but Kate shines‏ in Falmouth

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  • July 13, 2012 3:55 PM
Giofra_Elusive Kate
Photo: Emma-Louise Kerwin/Goodtosoft.co.uk
Golden Lilac dominated the pre-race build up to the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket today with Andre Fabre comparing her to his greatest ever filly, Banks Hill. However, as Golden Lilac failed to fire in soft conditions as the heavily backed favourite, it was Alain de Royer-Dupre and Christophe Soumillon who reclaimed victory for France in the Falmouth Stakes trophy with Francois Doumen's raider, Siyooma, also impressing back in third place.

Having struggled with leg trouble at the beginning of her three year old campaign, Giofra has returned to the racetrack with renewed confidence as a four year old and substantial ability that connections have long believed she harboured. "We have known for a long time that she is a great filly. She ran very well twice this year and she was very fresh - she would very easily and was an easy second" stated Soumillon, "She goes on all ground so I was not concerned about that and we came here instead of the Eclipse last weekend to keep her against her own sex". Positioned at the back of the field through the first half of the race, Giofra cut through the pack heading into the final stages of a slowly run Falmouth Stakes and, despite the initial believe heading into the final few furlongs that many would struggle to land a blow with Elusive Kate seemingly drawing away, Giofra came alongside strongly as Elusive Kate began to look around on her first appearance on a racetrack for 252 days and just edged victory heading towards the shadows of the post. Connections believe that she will stay the twelve furlongs of a Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe and a test over ten furlongs at Glorious Goodwood looks to be the next test prior to any final decision on an Arc entry. 

For Elusive Kate it was a case of so close yet so far but connections were far from disheartened. Making her first appearance since a disappointing eighth-placed finish in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Elusive Kate showed fantastic heart under a clever ride by Frankie Dettori who took three lengths out of the field with a shrewd moved coming into the final half of the race. Gosden was notably pleased with his filly's performance, "We were delighted with her - it was nice to get her back on track. She has always been a very good filly and I couldn't be more pleased with her". Starting out so late in her Classic season in a very weak division, it is entirely possible that Elusive Kate could dominate her division in the latter part of this year but Gosden looks to a return to France in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville or the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown as the next target for his promising filly. 

Andre Fabre was notably disappointed by Golden Lilac's ninth-placed finish stating that the ground did not play to her advantage. "This was her first bad race but the ground was probably a reason - that's racing" stated Fabre. A return to France and an entry in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville where she will likely face Elusive Kate looks like the probable next option for Fabre's charge who finished the final quarter of this race a full two seconds slower than the winner, Giofra. Speaking with John Gosden, he also confirmed that the ground also played a part with the underpar performance of Princess Haya's Joviality, who now looks to head towards Arlington for the Beverly D Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard as part of a strong Gosden raid.

Giofra may have reigned supreme for France on Friday but the performance of Elusive Kate during a purple patch for Team Gosden suggests that an exceptional talented and exciting three year old filly may be waiting in the wings to take control of her division. On a day where English 1000 Guineas heroine, Homecoming Queen, retired from racing, it is Elusive Kate who looks to take up the baton for her division and storm clear.  

 

           Photo Courtesy of Emma-Louise Kerwin  (Goodtosoft.co.uk)    

 

Golden Lilac  |  Giofra  |  Elusive Kate  |  John Gosden  |  Newmarket (July)-GB  |  Beverly D. Stakes  |  Falmouth Stakes  |  Beverly D. Stakes (2012)

What the Nation is saying about Giofra victorious but Kate shines‏ in Falmouth ...

For those who've yet to see this filly race, you're in for a treat once you do see her. Giofra's still a quite lightly raced filly to be midway through her 4yr.old season. But she's quickly putting together a strong resume'. She was a beaten 5th in the very first race of her career. But then finished the 2011 season with a conditions race win at Compiegne and a listed stakes win at Longchamp. She began the 2012 season by beating the boys in the G2 Prix D' Harcourt at Longchamp, followed by a 2nd place finish behind Cirrus Des Aigles in the G1 Prix Ganay which was only the second time she'd ever been beaten. But she had the likes of Reliable Man, Wigmore Hall, and Saga Dream in behind her in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp. This was a stellar field of some of the best 3 and 3+yr.old fillies and mares racing in Europe right now that Giofra beat on Friday in the G1 Falmouth Stakes on Newmarket's July Course. Running her record to 6-4-1-0 for her career to date. I was also very impressed with the gritty effort by Elusive Kate. I would imagine that trainer John Gosden would have to be very pleased with that effort from his star filly against such a tough, competitive field. Having been off of the racetrack herself since she ran in the G2 BC Juvenile Fillies' Turf back in November. The rest of the 2012 season also looks quite promising for Elusive Kate based on what I saw out of her today, IMO.
Very impressed with this filly, indeed. Giofra's still quite lightly raced to be a 4yr.old filly, but her win in the G1 Falmouth Stakes runs her record to 6-4-1-0 lifetime now. Her only 2 losses having been a 5th place finish in the first start of her career last season and a 2nd place finish behind Cirrus Des Aigles in the G1 Prix Ganay back in April. I also thought Elusive Kate ran a hell of a race in the Falmouth Stakes, too. Not having been on the racetrack since she ran in the G2 BC Juvenile Fillies Turf back in November.
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