A French victory in the Falmouth Stakes had been expected but it came through the less obvious source of the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Giofra.
Golden Lilac, a rare British runner from Andre Fabre, arrived with glowing reviews and was sent off the 10-11 favourite at Newmarket on Friday but finished in front of just one of her nine rivals in the soft ground.
While Fabre’s raids are always feared, it could equally be said there are no half-measures with Royer-Dupre’s overseas forays as the distinguished trainer has won a Champion Stakes and a Melbourne Cup in his time.
Royer-Dupre feels the best is yet to come from the lightly-raced Giofra (10-1), who was brushed aside by Cirrus Des Aigles at Longchamp last time but proved half a length too strong against her own sex.
Christophe Soumillon ventured up the far rail and switched slightly to the right for a better view with a couple of furlongs (400m) remaining, bearing down on the positively-ridden Elusive Kate and getting on top close to the line.
“I thought she was a seriously good filly. I’ve known that for a long time, but she had leg trouble at the beginning of her three-year-old campaign and came back a new filly at four,” Royer-Dupre said.
“It was a risk to run at a mile, because I feel she can continue over 10 furlongs. The Nassau Stakes at Goodwood is a possibility, or the Prix Jean Romanet, and if she stays 12 furlongs, she could run in the Arc.”
Northern Irish trainer Andy Oliver took away the other Group prize as Sendmylovetorose maintained her unbeaten record in the Cherry Hinton Stakes.
Withdrawn from last month’s Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot after getting trapped underneath the starting stalls, the 2-1 favourite had already redeemed herself in a Curragh Group Three and was given a no-nonsense ride up the centre of the track by Colm O’Donoghue.
