By Tom Frary
Equalling the pre-war record of six successes in the Falmouth S. set by the “Wizard of Manton” Alec Taylor, Jr., the “Wizard of Newmarket” Sir Michael Stoute conjured something special from TDN Rising Star Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Friday's Tattersalls-sponsored group 1 prize. Slow to come to herself this term, Cheveley Park Stud's homebred was too free in front when fourth last time in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at the Royal meeting and was initially kept away from the remainder by Oisin Murphy in front. Having to battle late as One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) arrived on the scene, the 6-1 shot proved equal to the task and hit the line with a neck to spare, with the heavily-backed I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) 2 3/4 lengths away in third. “Things didn't really go to plan at Ascot, but they have done a fantastic job at home with her,” Murphy said of the winner, another to set a track record on a day of them. “She was a little bit fresh going to post, but thankfully the first two furlongs were smooth and chilled. That's due to all the hard work put in at home. She's small, but she rides quite strong and obviously takes racing well.”
Stoute's first winner of this race came in 1983 via the eventual Breeders' Cup Mile scorer Royal Heroine (Ire) (Lypheor {GB}) when it was a group 3 race known as the Child S. The high-class dual winner Sonic Lady (Nureyev) was next up in 1986 and 1987, while the other pair came in these silks in 1998 and 2014 courtesy of Lovers Knot (GB) (Groom Dancer) and Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Stoute's ability to build this operation's fillies into top-level performers is uncanny, but Veracious looked like one that could be heading in the wrong direction during the early part of the season.
Only fourth when the 5-4 favourite for the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. on the Rowley Mile May 5, last year's G3 Atalanta S. winner and G1 Coronation S. and G1 Nassau S. third had two in front racing under a penalty in Epsom's G3 Princess Elizabeth S. over an extended mile June 1. Over-racing in the Duke of Cambridge, Veracious was in danger of doing too much again here but Murphy's manoeuvre towards the stand's rail seemed to settle her perfectly. From an early point, the rest were playing catch-up and that Frankel stride was always going to make it a thankless task for the pursuers.
“It was a very brave performance and Oisin rode her beautifully,” Stoute said. “She ran very well at Ascot, but was doing a little too much and we didn't want that to happen today. We wanted to let her flow. She has taken a long time to ripen, but Ryan [Moore] rode her in work 10 days ago and said 'she is there now'. We have a lot of choices and she has got form at mile and a quarter from the Nassau last year. We don't have to decide that today and we will take our time. Cheveley Park have been wonderful supporters and I'm always thrilled to win a good race for them.”
James Doyle said of One Master, who looked to stay the mile well, “She is so brave and I travelled into the race well, but she tightened up a bit when I got after her and she didn't appear to let down on me.” Trainer William Haggas added, “She is very game, but she doesn't like fast ground. Her best trip is seven furlongs, but there are not any seven-furlong group 1 races until the [Oct. 6 G1] Prix de la Foret, so I don't know where she'll run. We will work backwards from that.” Aidan O'Brien said of I Can Fly, “It was a very good run. There are no plans, but we will see how she is. There are no excuses.”
Veracious is a half-sister to the dual G2 Summer Mile winner and G1 Queen Anne S., G1 Juddmonte International S. and GI Woodbine Mile-placed Mutakayyef (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), and to the G3 Prix de Flore scorer Intimation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The dam Infallible (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who captured the G3 Nell Gwyn S. and was runner-up in this race and the G1 Coronation S., is out of the listed-winning and group-placed sprinter Irresistible (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), who also produced Infallible's listed-class full-brothers Remarkable (GB) and Watchable (GB).
Irresistible's unraced daughter Penchant (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) was responsible for the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G2 Lennox S. hero Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Zagitova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was third in last year's G2 Debutante S. Infallible's 3-year-old colt Sea Wings (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was fifth on his debut here last month, while she also has the unraced 2-year-old colt Galata Bridge (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) and a yearling full-brother to Veracious.
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
TATTERSALLS FALMOUTH S.-G1, £200,000, Newmarket, 7-12, 3yo/up, f, 8fT, 1:35.89 (NTR), g/f.
1–VERACIOUS (GB), 133, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Infallible (GB) (GSW & MG1SP-Eng, $314,279), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Irresistible (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Polish Romance, by Danzig
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Oisin Murphy. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 10-3-0-4, $401,453. *1/2 to Mutakayyef (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), GSW & MG1SP-Eng, GISP-Can, $940,999; and Intimation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSW-Fr, SW & MGSP-Fr, SP-Eng, $145,189. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–One Master (GB), 133, m, 5, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Enticing (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Lael Stable; B-Lael Stables (GB); T-William Haggas. £43,000.
3–I Can Fly (GB), 133, f, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Madonna Dell'orto (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (240,000gns Ylg '16 TAOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Rockwell Bloodstock (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £21,520.
Margins: NK, 2 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 6.00, 3.30, 2.50.
Also Ran: Qabala, Beshaayir (GB), Mot Juste. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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