Roly Poly powers to victory in Falmouth Stakes

Roly Poly and Moore make all in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Aidan O’Brien chalked up an eighth success in this year’s QIPCO British Champions Series as Roly Poly landed the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

O’Brien was absent from the July Course but will have enjoyed what he watched on television as Roly Poly led from the start under Ryan Moore and never really looked like being pegged back.

The daughter of War Front, who had won the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on the corresponding card 12 months ago, showed all her battling qualities to see off a brief challenge from Wuheida and stretch away in the final furlong to win the one mile contest by one and quarter lengths.

Winning owner Michael Tabor said: “It’s been a good day at the office, as they say. She loves the [good to firm] ground, that’s for sure.

“That was pretty straight forward actually, I know it’s easy to say afterwards. Ryan [Moore] said in the paddock that he thought it would be best to take her to the front and he did. She did it well and she’s a good filly.

“She’s had some near misses but she’s a tough, hardy filly. She’s small but she battles well and this ground really suits her well, so we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Three-time champion jockey Moore is the only jockey to have ridden in all 17 QIPCO British Champions Series this season. He has won seven and his form figures read 12141223041211341.

Wuheida landed the Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly last October before suffering a stress fracture to her right hind leg in April.

She had been on the easy list since, but showed that she still retained her ability with a fine effort under William Buick.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “If she had been fitter, I would have preferred a more testing gallop, as that what she has been used to, but for today it was perfect.”

Options are open for the Dubawi filly and the Godolphin trainer added: “I still had it in my mind we would go to be going forward for the Nassau (over 1m2f at Goodwood), but with a filly like her, I just want to get her back and see her sound.”

Godolphin were also responsible for the third home with Arabian Hope under Josephine Gordon, who was a further half-length back. Her trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “She ran very well. I am very pleased with her. Third in a Group One is good for her. Maybe there is an option in France for her, or we may take her to the Group One Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. It could be either. She will come on for that as well.”

William Haggas, who saddled the fourth home Sea Of Grace, felt the ground was against her. He said: “The ground was too fast. I’ve run her on it twice in three runs and I’ve now learned my lesson, and that’s it – I’m not going to do it again.”