Soviet Song and Attraction renew rivalry

Soviet Song and Attraction renew their rivalry on Newmarket's July Course on Tuesday in a scintillating edition of the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes.

In last year's running of this $354,000 straight mile for fillies and mares, Soviet Song ended Attraction's undefeated record with a decisive 2-1/2 length victory, then beat her again by half a length in the Group 1 Matron Stakes. The James Fanshawe trained daughter of Marju was, however, only third in her reappearance at Royal Ascot at York last month in the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes.

A four-time Group 1 winner going a mile, the front-running Attraction began her 4-year-old campaign for Mark Johnston with a dull eleventh behind Bullish Luck and Silent Witness in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on May 14. Prospects for victory in the Falmouth for the dual classic winner are not bright as she has had an interrupted preparation.

Alexander Goldrun, winner of the the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on June 25, might find a mile on the short side if she goes as intended by trainer Jim Bolger, but the progressive Peeress, who beat Soviet Song by 3-3/4 lengths when winning the one-mile Windsor Forest, is in her element. Michael Stoute will give Michael Kinane a leg up on the Pivotal 4-year-old.

Also dangerous are a pair of 3-year-olds. Karen's Caper was just a short head second to Maids Casueway in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on June 17, while another Pivotal filly, Penkenna Princess, finished the same mrgin behind Saoire last time in the Irish 1000 Guineas.