Illuminate goes down fighting in Kentucky

Sat 31 October 2015

SKY LANTERN was able to bounce back from the disappointment of a Breeders Cup bid to win the 1000 Guineas, and Richard Hannon hopes that Illuminate, who finished an honourable sixth in last night's Juvenile Fillies Turf in Keeneland, might still be a force to be reckoned with at Newmarket next May.

Hannon said:"Frankie (Dettori) reported that he was the last off the bridle, but that a combination of the trip on soft ground, plus the fact that we are at the end of a long season just proved too much for Illuminate.

"We saw how good Illuminate was on fast ground during the summer, so it was always going to be a worry when so much rain fell in Kentucky through the week.

"She was still a close fourth inside the last furlong and then got tired in the ground, but if conditions are on top at Newmarket next year she might yet stay the mile. We'll see how she winters and regroup in the spring, but we were proud with the way she has run."


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