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Email a friendHOUSEMAN: Back Darjina to delight Falmouth fans
BRITISH racegoers have seen many of the major home prizes carried off by Aidan O'Brien's team this season and Newmarket revellers should prepare to see another Group One going to a foreign challenger.
However, the one-mile 3.10 Falmouth Stakes on Wednesday is expected to be disappearing across the English Channel rather than the Irish Sea with the French-trained Darjina hard to oppose.
Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, this Zamindar filly is a genuine Group One campaigner, having struck at the highest level no fewer than three times in the past.
She has also run some smashing races in defeat, most notably when finding only Haradasun a head too strong in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot last month.
That tremendous effort went a long way to dispelling the myth that Darjina fails to sparkle when on her travels, as did her second in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba in March.
Newmarket's July course does not suit every horse, but there is no doubting that Darjina possesses rock-solid credentials.
She is a much better horse on decent ground and the possibility of a rain-softened surface is the only concern, with a repeat of her Ascot form expected to be good enough if Newmarket misses the heavy showers.
Farringdon's Daily Double
Sophie's Girl
Newmarket 2:00 (nap)
OASIS SUN
Lingfield 2:10
Houseman's Choice
Darjina
Newmarket 3:10