Veracious and Murphy fend off foes in Falmouth Stakes

Veracious with Murphy, left, and her groom. Picture: Racingfotos.com 

Veracious provided master trainer Sir Michael Stoute with a sixth victory in the Group One Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes.

Allowed to bowl along in front on the Cheveley Park-owned filly, jockey Oisin Murphy got the fractions spot on in the QIPCO British Champions Series contest and there was enough in the tank to see off the strong late challenge from One Master.

It was a career-best effort from Veracious (6-1) who has been beaten in lesser company on her three previous runs this season, but her trainer knew he had her right for her big day, as he so often does.

Stoute said: “She has taken a long time to really ripen and Ryan [Moore] rode her about a week ago and he said she was there now. It was a very brave performance and Oisin rode her beautifully.

“She ran very well at Ascot because we tried to switch her off but she was always doing a bit too much and we didn’t want that to happen today, so I told him to let her flow and relax.

“We have a lot of choices with her, she is entered in everything, as her owners will shortly find out.

“She is very versatile. I think she can go eight or ten furlongs. She could go for the Nassau Stakes but we don’t have to decide today.”

James Doyle, rider of the 100/30 runner-up, suggested that the ground might have been a little quick for the daughter of Fastnet Rock, admitting: “She is so brave and I travelled into the race well, but she tightened up a bit when I got after her and she didn’t appear to let down on me.”

Her trainer, William Haggas, added: “It was a shame not to win. She is very game, but she doesn’t like fast ground.”

Third home was the Ryan Moore-ridden 5/2 favourite I Can Fly, who had been third in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.

She appeared to be undone by the lack of pace in the race, although her trainer, Aidan O’Brien, was adamant there were no excuses in defeat.

He said: “We are very happy with her. Very happy. It was a very good run. There are no plans, but we will see how she is. Ryan [Moore] was very happy and said she ran a very good race – and that was it.

“We are delighted with her, really. The ground was perfect. There are no excuses.”