By PA Sport Staff
James Doyle will get his first ride on Crimson Advocate in a race in Friday’s Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes having overlooked the filly at Royal Ascot.
John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old showed a blistering turn of foot to win for the second time at the showpiece meeting, but this time over a mile having landed the Queen Mary when trained in America.
Doyle, though, preferred the claims of fellow Wathnan Racing-owned Fallen Angel who could only finish third.
“I rode Crimson Advocate just before I got injured. It’s a shame I have not had the chance to ride her on the track but I have sat on her at home and she is a beautiful filly who amazingly won the Queen Mary and is now up to a mile, which seems to be her trip,” said Doyle.
“I know she was getting a bit of weight off of Cinderella’s Dream at Royal Ascot, as the whole field was, but I thought she showed a really good turn of foot off the turn to put the race to bed with some style.
“She really seems to have taken a step forward this year. Interestingly, I was speaking to Richard Brown (racing manager to Wathnan Racing) earlier this year and he said he’d been speaking to John and Thady and they think we should try this filly over a mile. Everyone was scratching their heads a bit, but that shows why John and Thady are the top firm that they are.
“At Ascot, it definitely proved the right call and it would be lovely for her to get a Group One to her name as obviously the guys will be looking to breed from her at some stage further down the line.
“You would like to think she can step up and win a Group One.
“The slight possible question mark would be a mile in a straight line, as James (McDonald) did seem to think she enjoyed going round a turn at Ascot, which she was obviously used to from her time in the States. But she did win a Queen Mary, albeit only over five furlongs, in a straight line.”
The aforementioned Cinderella’s Dream, trained by Charlie Appleby, went off favourite at Ascot but does meet Crimson Advocate on 3lb better terms this time.
Her jockey William Buick said: “She had the penalty at Ascot and ran a very good race. She knuckled down and battled on well for second, I thought the winner won well and she’s probably an improving filly, but we gave her 3lb, which is never easy.
“I do think she might be suited coming back to a straight track – she was so impressive in the Dahlia over nine furlongs. I do think the Falmouth is going to suit her and she has more in her favour here than she did at Ascot.
“She’s been such a good filly, she never runs a bad race and she always runs in the good races, whether that’s here or in America. It would be lovely for her to win a Group One here, it’s not easy but we’ll do our best.”
Oisin Murphy rides the Gosdens’ other runner Running Lion, who finished fourth at Ascot.
He said: “Running Lion ran a brave race at Ascot. We’re really looking forward to running her in Friday’s race. It is obviously quite open, but we’re hopeful for a big run.”
Saeed bin Surror’s Elwateen finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas on what was just her second ever run before failing to stay the mile and a half of the Oaks.
“She’s doing very well. She worked a few days ago, her last piece of work, and she’s definitely in good form,” said Bin Suroor.
“She came back very well from her last run and we’re looking forward to running her on Friday.
“She has plenty of speed, she didn’t stay the trip over a mile and a half.
“A trip between a mile and a mile and a quarter suits her, we gave her a chance at a mile and a half but it didn’t work out.
“On the quick ground she will be happier, good ground will be perfect for her.”
Aidan O’Brien runs Coronation Stakes third January, while his son, Donnacha, is represented by Atsila.
Elmalka, winner of the 1000 Guineas last year, aims to get back to winning ways for Roger Varian and German trainer Andreas Wohler is represented by Lady Ilze from Germany.
