Timeform Daily: Falmouth Stakes, Friday, Newmarket 15:00

Race of the Day / Timeform / 08 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Sahpresa: Looks the one to beat in the Falmouth

"...the older brigade may hold sway this year, with dual Sun Chariot winner Sahpresa fancied to gain her third success at the highest level. "

Timeform run the rule over this Group 1 for fillies and mares...

Antara took the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for the second successive year on her reappearance, readily beating First City. Another big run looks on the cards.

First City is thriving at present, chasing home Antara in the Princess Elizabeth and then beaten under three lengths into third in the Windsor Forest at Royal Ascot. These conditions hold no fears, but she's likely to come up short on her first crack at a Group 1.

I'm A Dreamer was a progressive miler throughout 2010 and has continued her improvement this year, winning the nine-furlong Dahlia Stakes at the Guineas meeting. Things didn't really go her way when only fifth in the Windsor Forest, and she needs to bounce back now.

Lily of The Valley made up into one of the top fillies in 2010, rounding off her unbeaten campaign with success in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera over a mile and a quarter. She possibly needed the run when below form on her reappearance, but this drop in trip looks a big stumbling block.

River Jetez is one of the top performers in South Africa and she has been in good form in 2011, winning a nine-furlong Group 3 at Meydan in February. She ran well in defeat in the mile-and-a-quarter Singapore Cup last time and the drop back to a mile against her own sex is unlikely to be a problem.

Sahpresa won the Sun Chariot Stakes in 2009 and 2010 and she made a fine return to action when winning a seven-furlong Group 3 at Longchamp last month. She is reliable and versatile as regards ground, and looks sure to take close order.

Timepiece can look ungainly under pressure but is smart on her day, as when winning and eleven-furlong listed race at Warwick last month. She is just as effective at this trip but is likely to find a few too good in this grade.

Joviality improved out of all recognition when getting on top close home in the Musidora Stakes at York in May. She looked one-paced back at this trip in the Coronation Stakes last time and needs to take a big step forward to figure in this.

Maqaasid hasn't won since landing the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot last year, but has generally acquitted herself well in top company, including when a strong-travelling third in the 1000 Guineas. She was unsuited by the run of the race in the French equivalent and may have more to give.

Masaya won a valuable sales race over seven furlongs last year, but she has been found wanting in listed races this year and looks set to struggle.

Memory was one of the best two-year-old fillies last season, her wins including the Cherry Hinton at this meeting. She virtually refused to race when second favourite for the 1000 Guineas, but took a step back in the right direction at Royal Ascot last time, and might not have peaked yet.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Sahpresa
2. Antara
3. Memory

Timeform View: Three-year-olds have enjoyed a good recent record in this, winning four of the last fove runnings, but the older brigade may hold sway this year, with dual Sun Chariot winner Sahpresa fancied to gain her third success at the highest level. Godolphin's Antara is another with sound claims, while Memory may prove the pick of the younger generation.

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