Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) one-two Crimson Advocate and Cinderella's Dream face off in a fascinating rematch after both were declared for the July 11 Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse.
A length and three-quarters separated the duo at Royal Ascot last month, with the former emerging victorious and now set to bid for her first group 1 triumph in the mile contest. The Wathnan Racing-owned Crimson Advocate has improved since stepping up to a mile, having won the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) two years ago over five furlongs.
Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream aims for her second strike at the highest level, having won the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) last summer at Aqueduct Racetrack, and bids to get back to winning ways, having landed the Dahlia Stakes May 4.
Aidan O'Brien has whittled his team down to just one, with Coronation Stakes (G1) third January set to represent Ballydoyle under Ryan Moore.
Last year's One Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine Elmalka aims for her first victory since that famous triumph, while classic form is also brought into the race by this year's One Thousand Guineas fourth Elwateen, who drops back to a mile after finishing seventh in the 1 1/2-mile Epsom Oaks (G1) last time.
Running Lion, Atsila, and German raider Lady Ilze complete the eight-strong field.
Crimson Advocate Eyes First Group 1 Win
Crimson Advocate is operating on a "completely new level" this season and will look to provide owners Wathnan Racing with more top-level success Friday in the Falmouth.
Bred in Kentucky by Whitehall Lane Farm, the Nyquist filly was initially campaigned in the United States as a 2-year-old by trainer George Weaver and an ownership group led by R. A. Hill Stable. Following her 2023 Queen Mary win, she was purchased by Wathnan and embarked on a European campaign in 2024.
Now trained by John and Thady Gosden, the 4-year-old filly is chasing a hat trick after following up her listed Goodwood win with the Duke of Cambridge score.
Crimson Advocate will be ridden by Wathnan's retained rider James Doyle in the feature on day two of Newmarket's July meeting and racing advisor Richard Brown has been pleased with her progress.
"She showed a very impressive turn of foot at Royal Ascot," Brown said. "James McDonald has ridden plenty of group 1 winners and he was pretty taken with her; he thought she would be up to competing at the top level."
Although Brown has some reservations regarding the straight track on the July course, he is confident Crimson Advocate can again see off 5-2 favorite Cinderella's Dream.
He said: "My slight concern would be the straight course. She obviously won the Queen Mary up the Ascot straight, but I wonder if she's better going around a bend. But she's a different filly this year and has taken her form to a completely new level.
"Cinderella's Dream doesn't have the penalty this time, we're back at level weights, but she's a filly on the up, and John and Thady are happy she seems to have come out of Ascot okay."
