Wednesday, 27 June 2012: French trainer Rod Collet is contemplating running Nova Hawk in the £160,000 Group One Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket which has attracted 37 entries.
The mile contest for fillies and mares takes place on Abu Dhabi Day at the Piper-Heidsieck July Festival, Friday, July 13.
There are six French-trained entries including Andre Fabre's dual Classic winner Golden Lilac, who won the French 1,000 Guineas and French Oaks last season, before taking the scalp of Cirrus Des Aigles in the Group One Prix d'Ispahan on her seasonal return in May.
Alain de Royer-Dupre could be represented by Group One Prix Ganay runner-up Giofra and Group One Coronation Stakes fifth Bugie D'Amore, while Robert Collet has entered Dream Peace.
Robert's son Rod has enjoyed tremendous success at Newmarket, saddling Sahpresa, runner-up in this race in 2011, to win the Group One Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes on three consecutive occasions between 2009 and 2011.
Nova Hawk, owned like Sahpresa by Teruya Yoshida, finished fourth in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and French 1,000 Guineas last season before a fine second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She was a beaten favourite on her reappearance at Longchamp in May, but ran a more promising race when fifth in a seven-furlong Group Three from a wide draw back at the Paris track on June 2.
Collet, based at Lamorlaye near Chantilly, said: "We haven't decided if Nova Hawk will go for the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes as she is going to run on Saturday at either Hamburg in the Group Three Hamburger Stutenmeile or she will stay at home and run at Longchamp in the Group Three Prix de la Porte Maillot. After she runs, I will decide if she is going to Newmarket or not.
"She has been in good form and she didn't run too badly last time at Longchamp when she was fifth to Moonlight Cloud from a really bad draw in 14. From a draw that wide in a seven-furlong race at Longchamp, it is very complicated.
"In French racing they go very slow and that didn't suit her either, especially over seven furlongs.
"I think a step back up in trip will suit, but I want to win a Group Three with her before stepping back up into Group One company, so after the weekend I will know whether or not she is likely to run in the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes."
The Irish-trained entries for the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes include five from the Aidan O'Brien stable headed by nine-length QIPCO 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen.
Dermot Weld has entered last season's Group One Matron Stakes winner Emulous, while John Oxx has said the race is under consideration for recent Leopardstown Group Three scorer Alanza.
Trainer John Gosden won the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes in 1997 with Ryafan and could be represented by impressive Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You, QIPCO 1000 Guineas runner-up Starscope and Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes winner Joviality, who finished fourth in last year's renewal.
Gosden has also entered leading juvenile Elusive Kate, who was last seen finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf, but had previously won the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October.
Windsor Forest Stakes second Chachamaidee has been entered by Sir Henry Cecil as has the third Lay Time and fourth Barefoot Lady.
Mick Channon could be represented by Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Samitar and Laugh Out Loud, who finished sixth in the Coronation Stakes last time, but had previously won the Group Two Prix de Sandringham in good fashion, while Mahmood Al Zarooni could saddle Coronation Stakes third Irish History for Godolphin.
Other exciting entries include Ralph Beckett's Moonstone Magic, who looked top class when winning the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury in April, but hasn't been seen since finishing down the field in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas in May. She could be joined by Classic-winning stablemate Electrelane, who won the German 1,000 Guineas on June 3.
The three-day Piper Heidsieck July Festival opens on Thursday, July 12, Goldsmiths Ladies Day and concludes on Saturday, July 14, Darley July Cup Day.
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