'Unreal' Sparks Fly makes all for impressive Robin Hood Stakes success

The remarkable story of Sparks Fly continued with a dominant success in the feature Robin Hood Stakes. 

The filly, who started life handicapping off a mark of 59 last April, carved out the running under regular rider Laura Pearson and was not for catching. The four-year-old stayed glued to the inside rail in the home straight and maintained her effort to deny the 15-8 favourite Qirat by four and a quarter lengths. 

It was her third success at Listed level after striking at Saint-Cloud last time and her tenth victory from 20 starts. 

"She's unreal," winning owner Dave Lowe said. "I'm so proud of her mother [Stepping Out], who has produced some amazing horses for us. She's had her, Caroline Dale and Baby Steps, and they were all very useful. 

"We thought last time in France she could have gone a bit faster even though she was in front, so Laura decided to go forward again this time and play catch me if you can. The filly never stopped and she loved it – she had her ears pricked the whole way around."

Sparks Fly is not finished for the season either, with a return to France on the agenda for yet more black type. 

Lowe added: "We'll go back to Saint-Cloud for the Prix Isola Bella she won last year. It's on November 10 and she'll get her preferred soft ground there."

Derby dreams for Falconer

Golden Horn and Adayar won the 1m½f maiden before going on to Derby glory and this time around Epsom dreams will be harboured by the connections of Falconer, who defied greenness on his debut to down the 8-11 favourite El Matador.

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