Thursday, 12 July 2012: Dual Classic winner Golden Lilac is among 11 declared runners for a top-quality renewal of the £160,000 Group One Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes (3pm), the feature race of Abu Dhabi Day at the Piper-Heidsieck July Festival at Newmarket on Friday July 13.
The Andre Fabre-trained filly has won six of her seven starts to date, including victories in last season's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane. She recorded a third Group One success on her seasonal return in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp on May 27, when she beat Cirrus Des Aigles by three-quarters of a length.
A strong French challenge also includes the progressive Siyouma, from the stable of Francois Doumen. The daughter of Medicean finished a close third behind Solemia and last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Shareta on her latest start in the Group Two Prix Corrida over an extended 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud on May 28.
Doumen commented: "Siyouma couldn't be better than she is at the moment - she is improving every time she runs and she has certainly improved since she ran in the Prix Corrida. She was only just beaten by Shareta on that occasion, when she found the trip a little bit too long.
"I definitely think that a stiff mile at Newmarket would suit her better. She is turning out to be a very big girl with a huge action and I think the uphill climb will suit her very much.
"Siyouma won a good maiden at Longchamp last season for the Aga Khan and then she was put away for six months for some reason. She was able to finish her growing and get nicely balanced and I bought her in December.
"She has done nothing wrong since joining me and I wonder what price she would be if she still raced in the Aga Khan's colours? Every time that Gerald Mosse gets off her, he says that she is improving and we don't quite know her limit at the moment."
Group Two Prix d'Harcourt scorer Giofra, representing Alain de Royer-Dupre, also travels over from France. The lightly-raced four-year-old was runner-up to Cirrus Des Aigles on unsuitably heavy ground on her most recent appearance in the Group One Prix Ganay at Longchamp on April 29.
A pair of Irish runners includes the Aidan O'Brien-trained Maybe, who won the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes as a juvenile last season and took third in the Group One QIPCO 1000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile on May 6. John Oxx has declared recent Group Three scorer Alanza, who was sixth on her previous visit to Newmarket in the Group One Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes in September.
The John Gosden-trained Joviality and Chachamaidee, from the stable of Sir Henry Cecil, re-oppose each other after fighting out a tremendous finish to the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot on June 20. Gosden is also represented by Elusive Kate, who is set to make her seasonal return following a highly successful two-year-old campaign that included victory in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac.
The line-up is completed by Irish History, third in the Group One Coronation Stakes for Mahmood Al Zarooni, plus the Andrew Balding-trained Lay Time and Barefoot Lady, representing Richard Fahey, who finished third and fourth in the Windsor Forest Stakes.
Abu Dhabi Day also features the £60,000 Group Two Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes (2.25pm). A field of 12 for the six-furlong contest for juvenile fillies includes Agent Allison and Premier Steps, who were second and third respectively in the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Irish Group Three winner Sendmylovetorose.
The Piper-Heidsieck July Festival starts tomorrow Thursday, July 12, Goldsmiths Ladies Day, and concludes on Saturday, July 14, Darley July Cup Day.
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