Fallen Angel to take on QEII challenge at Ascot

Fallen Angel has earned another crack at the boys in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot.

Karl Burke’s star filly won her third successive Group One of the season in the Sun Chariot, taking her lifetime tally to five.

She did it the hard way at Newmarket, with James Doyle pressing on a long way out as her challengers gradually dropped away.

“What a star and she is obviously a flagbearer for us. It was a heart on your sleeve ride from James and a heart on your sleeve performance from Fallen Angel,” said Richard Brown, of owners Wathnan Racing.

“They were determined to make it hard for those in behind and they did. She just kept finding for James, was strong at the line and galloped away from a strong field with the first two a long way clear.

“Karl says she has bounced out of it and lost no weight at all which is staggering, even though she does come out of her races well.

“She seems to be taking her form to a new level and the plan, as long as she is completely fine, is to go to Ascot.

“She’s tough and game and even though taking on the boys is going to be a completely different kettle of fish, she’s in the form of her life and if she was ever going to do it, now is the right time.”

On the same afternoon Native Warrior sported the same silks at Ascot for Burke, winning the valuable Challenge Cup and defying an 8lb higher mark than when winning at the track a month earlier.

Another trip to Berkshire is on the cards and he will join Fallen Angel on Champions Day.

“He came out of Ascot well and there is more to come from him than handicaps I hope,” said Brown.

“Jamie (Spencer) has been very taken by him and feels he is a stakes calibre horse. He put in a good performance and that’s now two big performances at Ascot, so we’ll take a crack at the Balmoral.

“I think it’ll be his last run in a handicap and hopefully he will be starting off in stakes company next year.”