Star filly shows she’s ready for the boys

ALPHA CENTAURI showed that she will be a match for the boys after slamming the fillies in the Group One Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

Always travelling effortlessly in the hands of Colm O’Donoghue, the powerfully-built grey cruised to the front with six furlongs to run in the mile contest and it was just a matter of how far she would win.

For the record, she had Altyn Orda, her nearest rival, four-and-half lengths back in second with Clemmie taking third.

This was Alpha Centauri’s third successive Group One victory following victories in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and it was her easiest.

“She will now go to Deauville for the Prix Jacques le Marois (August 12) and take on the boys,” said winning trainer Jessica Harrington. “I know the Niarchos family (owners) love the Breeders’ Cup, so that probably will also be on the cards.

“She had to do all the donkey work today, making all her own running and she only won by four-and-half lengths, not six like she did at Ascot, but she was brilliant.

“The last twice we came into the races a bit under the radar.

“But today was different, she was odds-on, and I have been waking up in the middle of the night feeling a bit sick and I want to look at the race again because I didn’t really watch it.

“It’s my fault if I go and get her beaten at the end of the day, so this was a day where the pressure was well and truly on.”

Harrington can no longer be labelled as just a trainer of headliners over the jumps – Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John and the Champion Hurdle victor Jezki – but now handles the best Flat performer in Europe.

Exceptional

Currently, Alpha Centauri is officially rated a pound above Epsom Derby winner Masar.

“She’s absolutely unbelievable,” added Harrington. “For the size of her, she loves that ground.

“I’m very lucky to train her. She just has a very high cruising speed.”

Donoghue, a long-serving pivotal rider with Aidan O’Brien before joining Harrington, said: “She’s exceptional. From a jockey’s point of view, she is ice-cold, very relaxed.

“You can do anything with her, drop her in or make the running it does not matter which way the race is going. I have to do what is right for her.”

“She’s got ability in spades. I’m very lucky to be riding her.”