Wuheida and Arabian Hope go for Falmouth glory

Exciting three-year-old fillies Wuheida and Arabian Hope line up in the G1 Falmouth Stakes, the feature race on day two of Newmarket’s July Festival, Friday, July 14.
 
Wuheida (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who makes her seasonal return in the mile contest, was ranked among Europe’s top juveniles last season after staying on well for a comfortable victory in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, also over a mile, at Chantilly, France, in October.
 
The daughter of Dubawi made a winning debut on Newmarket’s July Course when readily taking a seven-furlong fillies’ maiden in August. 
 
She was being prepared for a Classic bid when meeting a setback in April.
 
Arabian Hope (Saeed bin Suroor/Josephine Gordon) has won all three of her starts so far this year, following up two All-Weather victories with a brave head success on turf in the Listed Ganton Stakes over a mile at York on June 17.
 
Charlie Appleby said: “I am delighted to have Wuheida back on track after she suffered her setback in April and she has been pleasing us with her preparation.

“We are coming up against some battle-hardened opposition but if she is still the same filly that she was in the spring, which is what she has been showing us, then she should be highly competitive.
 
“Our original aim was to run her in the 1000 Guineas and then step her up in distance. This race fits a similar profile – we want her to go out, get a run under her belt and work her way into the rest of the season, with the idea that stepping up in trip will suit.”
 
Saeed bin Suroor commented: “Arabian Hope won well in a Listed race at York and has been working nicely.
 
“Josephine Gordon has partnered the filly to all of her victories and gets on very well with her.

“This is a big step up for Arabian Hope but I have been happy with her and I am looking for another good result.”
 
A field of seven for the Falmouth Stakes also includes Roly Poly, who has finished second in the Coronation Stakes and Irish 1,000 Guineas this season, plus Poule d’Essai des Pouliches runner-up Sea Of Grace.
 
Elsewhere on the second day of the July Festival, Britannia Handicap fifth and top-weight Leshlaa (Saeed bin Suroor/Oisin Murphy) and Oasis Charm (Charlie Appleby/Josephine Gordon), a Leicester maiden winner earlier this season, go for the 10-furlong handicap for three-year-olds.
 
Finishing Touch (Saeed bin Suroor/Martin Lane) lines up in the mile handicap after making a winning debut over the same trip at York on July 1, while Chesham Stakes seventh Gold Town (Charlie Appleby/ James Doyle) also makes his first handicap appearance when giving weight all round in the seven-furlong nursery.
 
Charlie Appleby is doubly represented in both divisions of the seven-furlong two-year-old maiden on the card, with Being There and Tribal Quest, who both ran well to finish second on debut, lining up along with the unraced duo of Falcon Eye and Rastrelli.