Integral scores by two lengths in Falmouth Stakes

Late-developing Integral is evolving into one of the better older fillies in Europe, and she scored her first Group 1 victory on Friday at Newmarket, comfortably defeating 3-year-old Rizeena by two lengths in the Falmouth Stakes.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, who won the first three races Friday at Newmarket, for trainer Michael Stoute and owner-breeder Cheveley Park Stud, Integral raced keenly on a slow pace with Sky Lantern in the early stages of the straight-course, one-mile Falmouth. Moore eventually settled her into third as Rizeena came up outside to join Sky Lantern on the front end, and when Moore asked Integral to go forward with a little less than a quarter-mile to race, the filly sprang to the front and never came close to relinquishing her lead. She finished well within herself, winning for the fifth time in eight starts.

Rizeena, coming off a win in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, acquitted herself well in her first race against older horses. She checked in three-quarters of a length in front of Peace Burg, who might have run the best race of her career for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The disappointment was Sky Lantern, who found herself trapped along the rail – partly because she failed to adequately quicken – when Integral made her move, and so far does not look the same horse this season she was last year at 3.

The winner, a, a 4-year-old daughter of Dalakhani, was timed in 1:41.96 on a slow-playing course.