Guineas winners miss Coronation Stakes
This season’s Classic winners may have spurned the opportunity for further success, but those they denied are trying once more.
There are 13 acceptors for the Group One Coronation Stakes, which is the highlight of Friday’s card at Royal Ascot, but Special Duty, winner of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, and Bethrah, who won the Irish equivalent, are both missing the race.
In their absence the fillies that they beat will be head the potential field. Jacqueline Quest (pictured right) actually finished a nose ahead of Special Duty after a thrilling finish to the 1000 Guineas, but was disqualified in the subsequent stewards’ inquiry. Henry Cecil’s filly is reported to have been working well and the trainer could also run Chachamaidee, the winner of a Listed race at York last month.
Tom Queally is down to ride Jacqueline Quest, with Eddie Ahern expected to be on Chachamaidee.
Of the fillies who finished behind Jacqueline Quest at Newmarket, Gile Na Greien (third), Sent From Heaven (fourth) and Music Show (sixth) re-oppose. As well as Music Show owner Jaber Adbullah also has Lady Of The Desert, who looked very unlucky when finishing fifth in the Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches at Longchamp four weeks ago.
Anna Salai was only a head away from providing Godolphin’s new trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni, with a first Group One winner of his career in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the filly has been supplemented for the race. Aidan O’Brien has two possible runners, Famous and Lillie Langtry, who made eye-catching late progress to finish a half-length fifth behind Anna Salai.
The Derby form may get its first examination if At First Sight run in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Galileo colt looked as though he might have stolen the prize at Epsom last week, when his front-running style had him six lengths clear early in the home straight.
Ultimately he was no match for the winner, Workforce, but still held on for second place and is one of 10 in the race that is sometimes referred to as the Ascot Derby. Of those that ran at Epsom, Buzzword (eighth) and Bullet Train (12th) are also entered.
At the other end of the scale Harry Dunlop's Green Moon is stepping up in class in his attempt for a fourth successive win, having worked through maiden, handicap and Listed levels so far this season. Another improving handicapper is Monterosso, who was supplemented.
Mark Johnston’s colt, who still hold entries for the Hampton Court Stakes and King George V Handicap earlier at the meeting, has won four of his last five starts.
At 5,000gns Primo Lady cost just a fraction of some of the horsepower to be found in the Ascot car parks and has already won four times that amount in prize money. g*y Kelleway’s filly won a Listed race at York’s Dante meeting last month and is one of 31 entries for the Group Three Albany Stakes.
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