Lantern Shines Brightly in Falmouth

In a fabulous renewal of the Gr1 Falmouth Stakes (a mile) at Newmarket that saw the 3YO fillies dominate their elders, history came full circle in a sense. With the world’s highest rated racehorse Frankel (Galileo-Kind, by Danehill) beginning to prove as dominant at stud as he was on the track, the omens were strong for his beautifully-bred daughter Snow Lantern, trained by Richard Hannon. Out of Red Clubs mare Sky Lantern, the long-striding filly had to be extricated from a little traffic in the final furlong but closed powerfully to defeat Ballydoyle’s Gr1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Zoffany) and fellow filly Alcohol Free (No Nay Never). Snow Lantern’s dam Sky Lantern was a magnificent 2-and 3YO, winning the Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes as a juvenile at The Curragh before unleashing as a 3YO to claim elite triumphs in the 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes (all over a mile). The missing link for her was in the Falmouth Stakes where she finished runner-up after connections appealed due to alleged interference by the winner Elusive Kate (Elusive Quality) in 2013’s running of the race. Hannon – who also trained Snow Lantern’s dam – takes the  view is that the past is the past and that he doesn’t like to win in the stewards’ room anyway. Meanwhile, the owners of Sky Lantern will be eagerly anticipating her 2020 and 2021 foals, both colts by rising star sire Kingman (Invincible Spirit).