Russian Rhythm confounded bad vibes about her fitness |
Russian Rhythm dispelled any doubts about her fitness to come out on top in a bruising 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
There had been doubts as to whether the Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly would even line up for the Classic after failing to impress in her training at home.
Her price had drifted out to 12-1 but she made a mockery of those odds to land a third 1,000 Guineas victory for champion jockey Kieren Fallon.
French challengers Six Perfections and Intercontinental were second and third.
In a rough contest on the famous Rowley Mile course, Fallon took advantage of a gap a couple of furlongs out and took up the running alongside Intercontinental, who then began to weaken.
Favourite Six Perfections was tucked in on the rail early on but then got checked and jockey Thierry Thulliez had to ride right round the outside to get a run.
 She is the best of my 1,000 Guineas winners and hopefully she will go and improve |
And although the French filly finished strongly, she could not make up the lost ground in time.
After the race, Stoute re-iterated that he had not been happy with Russian Rhythm's build-up to the Newmarket contest.
"It may be that as she has matured she no longer works with the sort of sparkle she always did as a two-year-old, but I certainly didn't come here confident," he said.
"She wasn't working or eating like she did last season. It could just be her growing up.
"I have no idea where she will run next. We will have to take her home and talk about it."
Fallon was full of praise for Russian Rhythm, who was his eighth British Classic success.
"She is the best of my 1000 Guineas winners and hopefully she will go and improve and still be the best at the end of the season," said the Irish jockey.
"She's done it very well. When I switched we got the breaks and that's the luck you need."
One man bemoaning his lack of luck was Six Perfections' trainer, Pascal Bary.
"It is hard to take. I am KO'd, speechless," said the Frenchman.
Sagitta 1,000 Guineas Stakes
One mile, Newmarket
1 Russian Rhythm (K Fallon) 12-1
2 Six Perfections (T Thulliez) 7-4f
3 Intercontinental (C Soumillon) 5-1
19 ran. Dist: 1�l, 1�l
MMIX
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