Russian Rhythm Upsets Six Perfections in 1,000 Guineas

Russian Rhythm , once the future book favorite for Sagitta 1000 Guineas Stakes (Eng-I) for 3-year-old fillies, woke up for trainer Sir Michael Stoute Sunday to defeat Six Perfections by 1 1/2 length at Newmarket.

Ridden by Kieren Fallon for Cheveley Park Stud, the Kingmambo filly had a perfect trip to register a 12-1 upset over the luckless 7-4 favorite Six Perfections, who encountered much trouble for jockey Thierry Thulliez.

The French horse had to take up after being bumped and was last of 19 runners on the inside in the final two furlongs. She rallied bravely but was hampered twice more while racing in the center of the track.

A bitterly disappointed Pascal Bary told The Racing Post, "She was the best filly, but second best in the race.

"I'm happy with how she ran but not the race itself," he added.

Fallon put Russian Rhythm near the rear in 18th early, but was able to thread his way through the field along the inside to grab the lead from Intercontinental a furlong from home and continued gamely.

Thulliez was near the back early, but Six Perfections ran into the heels of Spinola at the two-furlong point. Once clear on the outside, she was coming strongest of all.

"It's hard to take," said Thulliez. "There were two horses in front of me and we galloped into one of their heels and reared up. I don't know how I stayed in the saddle and the opening that should have been mine was taken by the winner."

Intercontinental held third 1 1/4 -length behind Six Perfections. Soviet Song was fourth.

Stoute had expressed doubts about the winner's condition coming into the race.

"That's a high class performance and maybe she was kidding me a little at home," said Stoute. "I was just reporting honestly but they will probably think I've conned them.

"I really have not been pleased with her preparation. Kieren was a little more confident than I was, but fortunately she has just come right on the day. She wasn't really blooming and wasn't eating as well as she can."

Fallon, winning his third 1,000 Guineas in six years, acknowledged his good fortune.

"I was a bit lucky that the breaks came for her when I needed them, and I was lucky enough to be able to follow Intercontinental through when she went into the lead," he said.

"It was not always easy to get a clear run, but she went through the gap when it came for her and she ran on really well. She is the best of the three 1,000 Guineas winners that I have ridden."

Brushwood Stable bred Russian Rhythm, out of the Nijinksy mare Balistroika, in the United States.