Integral Flies to Victory in Falmouth Stakes

Fresh off a convincing win at Royal Ascot last month, Integral kept the momentum going at Newmarket July 11 when she broke through for a first group I success in the QIPCO Falmouth Stakes.

 

After shaking off runner-up Rizeena to lead well over a furlong out, Ryan Moore brought the 4-year-old daughter of Dalakhani up the stands' side rail for a two-length triumph as the 15-8 favorite.

 

A homebred of Cheveley Park Stud, Integral was racing on soft ground for the first time but took to the surface with aplomb. She covered the mile distance in 1:41.96 for her second win from three starts this year and fifth victory from eight career outings. 

 

Sky Lantern just missed when second in last year's Falmouth and was expected to progress in this year's edition after her fifth behind the victorious Integral in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Eng-II) June 18 at Royal Ascot. Sky Lantern seized the early lead and laid down slow fractions for the first half-mile but soon weakened on the spongy course. 

 

Recent Coronation Stakes (Eng-I) winner Rizeena and Integral were always within striking distance, and Rizeena took charge from weakening Sky Lantern with three-eighths of a mile to run. 

 

Integral had stamina to spare and overhauled Rizeena when called upon, taking the lead and powering clear in the final furlong. Rizeena held on for a creditable second, three-quarters of a length in front of Peace Burg. There was a 3 1/2-length gap back to Purr Along in fourth while Sky Lantern was a further 3 1/4 lengths behind in fifth in the seven-horse field.

 

Integral's trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, was delighted with the victory.

 

"She's done it well," he told England's Press Association. "She hasn't been on this sort of ground before and bounces off top of the ground, so we were a bit concerned as we didn't know if she would handle it. We didn't contemplate not running her as we wanted to find out if she would. She's by Dalakhani and very few of those don't go on this sort of ground."

 

Stoute added that Integral is entered for the QIPCO Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) July 30 at Goodwood, but he had not decided if she would start in the race against males. He indicated there were plenty of other group I races to consider. 

 

Integral is out of 2007 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes (Ire-I) winner Echelon, a half sister to group-winning miler Chic. Second dam Exclusive, who won the 1998 Coronation Stakes, is a half sister to 1997 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) winner Entrepreneur. Sire Dalakhani is based at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland.