Russian Rhythm became the first filly in 20 years to win the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) at Newbury in May in her only start at 4, digging deep to beat Salseon and Norse Dancer.Brushwood Stable bred Russian Rhythm, who is out of the unraced Nijinsky II mare Balistroika, in Pennsylvania. Cheveley Park Stud bought Russian Rhythm for $678,770 at the 2001 Tattersalls October yearling sale.
Cheveley Park Stud has retired classic winner and multiple group I victor Russian Rhythm. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly,a 4-year-old daughter of Kingmambo, won seven of her 10 starts, including four group Is. Stoute told the BBC that Russian Rhythm was being prepared for a return in Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-I) on Oct. 2, but suffered a setback. She earned $1,260,794 in her career, which included victories in both the One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and the Coronation Stakes (Eng-I).Jockey Kieren Fallon, who rode Russian Rhythm in all 10 of her races, told the BBC she is "one of the best fillies" he has ever ridden. Fallon won two other other group Is with her, defeating star miler Soviet Song both times they met. Russian Rhythm won three out of four starts as a juvenile, including the Princess Margaret Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot and the Lowther Stakes at York. Her only defeat came against sprinting specialist Airwave in the Cheveley Park Stakes.She upset subsequent Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Six Perfections in the One Thousand Guineas. After that, Russian Rhythm she took the Coronation Stakes before proving her versatility by winning the 10-furlong Nassau Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood. She ended the season with two defeats – losing in Falbrav in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-I) and failing to earn a placing for the only time in her career when fifth behind Rakti in the Champion Stakes (Eng-I).
