Music Show upsets in Falmouth Stakes

Music Show turned European filly form on its head Wednesday with an impressive victory in the Group 1, $280,000 Falmouth Stakes over the Newmarket July Course, leaving Coronation Stakes winner Lillie Langtry and dual Guineas winner Special Duty far behind while recording a two-length victory over Spacious.

Allowed to settle in seventh place behind a fast pace shared by Spacious and Strawberrydaiquiri, the Michael Channon-trained 3-year-old daughter of Noverre was given a confident ride by Richard Hughes, who angled her out with less than a furlong to go in the straight mile. Music Show responded to a single crack of the whip and flew to the lead barely 40 yards from home to win going away. Group 3 Jersey Stakes winner Rainfall was along for third, three-quarters of a length behind Spacious, while Strawberrydaiquiri, who had beaten the runner-up up by a nose in the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes, was fourth.

Lillie Langtry and Special Duty, who was placed first in both the English and French Guineas, showed none of their usual sparkle. Well placed in third early, the 9-4 favorite Lillie Langtry checked in fifth, beaten 5 1/2 lengths, while Special Duty weakened to finish seventh of eight, 20 1/2 lengths behind the 13-2 winner, who was timed in 1:36.76 on good-to-firm ground.

The winner of the seven-furlong, Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on the Newmarket Rowley Mile Course in her 2-year-old finale, Music Show had not won since taking the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes over the same course and distance on April 14. She had since been sixth in Special Duty’s 1000 Guineas, third in Bethrah’s Irish 1000 Guineas, and fourth in Lillie Langtry’s Coronation Stakes, in which the disqualified winner of the English Guineas, Jacqueline Quest, had been third.

Channon said he will keep Music Show at a mile for the remainder of the year, eyeing the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Aug. 1 and the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 4.

◗ Earlier, Hughes teamed with Richard Hannon to win the Group 2, $106,000 Cherry Hinton Stakes with Memory. Previously the winner of the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the 2-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer remained undefeated as she came with a late rush to beat Soraaya by three-quarters of a length, getting the six furlongs in 1:12.40 as the 5-4 favorite. She will be aimed at the seven-furlong, Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Aug. 29.