Sky Lantern’s Nassau decision to be made next week

Sky Lantern (left) gets the better of Just The Judge (right) in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Sky Lantern’s next race will hinge on how she goes on the gallops next week when she resumes fast work after her defeat in the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket eight days ago.

On Thursday her connections failed to overturn the result of the controversial race in which the winner, Elusive Kate, veered left and took Sky Lantern with her.

"It was a very fair hearing but just didn’t go our way – that’s that, let’s move on," said assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr at the time.

If she goes for the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday 3 August, it will test her stamina for the first time as she tackles a mile and a quarter having so far only raced as far as a mile.

Her jockey, Richard Hughes, who has won three of the Fillies & Mares races to far this season and finished second in the other, has always been adamant that she will stay further and it could mean another clash with Just The Judge, whom Sky Lantern beat in both the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes.

Just The Judge’s connections have always been certain that she would improve for the longer trip so a rematch over an extra two furlongs could prove very interesting indeed.