Elusive Kate survives Falmouth enquiry

It took a while to be finalised after a fair bit of argument both on and off the course but Elusive Kate came out ahead in the female all-aged clash for the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

William Buick’s mount ended the stellar winning run of the top three-year-old filly Sky Lantern (4-7 favourite) by a neck, but second-placed jockey Richard Hughes was not happy Elusive Kate had hung across him and believed his filly had been struck in the face by his rival’s whip.

Elusive Kate (3-1), winner of last year’s Group 1 Prix Rothschild, made all the running in a tactical four-runner affair but has shown a tendency to drift in the past, with Buick handed a three-day careless riding ban (July 26,28,29) despite having his stick in the correct hand.