Royal Ascot - Racing: Star filly Inspiral set for Coronation Stakes return

bet365 News Team Published: Jun 15 2022 19:10

One of the biggest sporting events in the calendar and the jewel in the Flat-racing crown, we take a look at the key races on day four at Royal Ascot.

Commonwealth Cup

The newest addition to the Royal Ascot festival, The Commonwealth Cup was introduced in 2015 with three-year-olds no longer eligible to run in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The inaugural running was won by the subsequent Champion Sprinter of Europe, Muhaarar.

Overview

When: Friday 17th June
Time 3.05pm
Distance: 6f
Winning prize money: £283,550
Class: Group 1
Open to: Three-year-olds

Key facts:

Last year’s renewal of the race caused controversy as it was won in the steward’s room, with first-past-the-post Dragon Symbol demoted in favour of American-trained Campanelle.

The race is favoured for classy horses with plenty of speed that might be stretched to stay a mile in the Classics. Whilst the race is still new, the roll of honour is still a high class one. None more so than Muhaarar.

It is difficult to identify any key trials for the race judged on the short sample of renewals so far. Two previous winners (Muharrar and Advertise) had been trained to stay a mile but successfully dropped back to sprinting in the Commonwealth Cup.

The first seven winners all won at least once over six furlongs and had raced at least four times in total. This suggests experience is vital which could be a negative for any inexperienced horses.

The first seven runnings have been won by seven different trainers while Frankie Dettori is the only jockey so far to win it twice. All seven have been won by powerful stables, including Aidan O’Brien and Sir Michael Stoute. Wesley Ward also demonstrated his love for Royal Ascot by training the winner of the 2021 renewal.

Five in focus:

Perfect Power

Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Owner: Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum
Sire: Ardad
Age: 3
Official Rating: 115
Race Record: 311511 / 17
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2021: 1st – Group 2 Norfolk Stakes
Current Price: 7/2
Major Wins: Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, Group 1 Prix Morny, Group 2 Nofolk Stakes, Group 3 Greenham Stakes
Summary: One of the top juveniles last season, landing Group 1s at Newmarket and Deauville. Didn’t stay in the Guineas last time, and should go close back over 6 furlongs.

El Caballo

Trainer: Kieran Burke
Jockey: Clifford Lee
Owner: Grange Park Racing Xviii & Ofo Partners
Sire: Havana Gold
Age: 3
Official Rating: 112
Race Record: 211 / 1111
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 5/1
Major Wins: Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes, Listed Spring Cup Stakes
Summary: Continues to improve and is unbeaten since debut 2nd. Some of the strongest form in the line-up.

Ehraz

Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Owner: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd
Sire: Showcasing
Age: 3
Official Rating: 106
Race Record: 215 / 32
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 7/1
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Showed promise at 2 and looks even better this season, finishing 3rd in the trial for this race behind Go Bears Go.

Twilight Jet

Trainer: Michael O’Callaghan
Jockey: Leigh Roche
Owner: M Lavarone/Julie Lavarone/ M O’Callaghan
Sire: Twilight Son
Age: 3
Official Rating: 114
Race Record: 3517563351?/1
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2021: 7th – Group 2 Norfolk Stakes
Current Price: 8/1
Major Wins: Group 3 Lacken Stakes, Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes
Summary: Had a busy 2-y-o campaign with some strong form to his name, looking better than ever when landing Naas Group 3 latest.

Go Bears Go

Trainer: Dave Loughnane
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Owner: Amo Racing & Omnihorse Racing & P Waney
Sire: Kodi Bear
Age: 3
Official Rating: 111
Race Record: 1213472 / 14
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2021: 2nd – Group 2 Norfolk Stakes
Current Price: 9/1
Major Wins: Group 2 Railway Stakes, Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes
Summary: Group 2 winner last season and showed he has trained on when winning trial for this race back in April. Lost his race at the start last time, and should go well.

Coronation Stakes

The feature race of the day where three-year-old fillies take centre stage. The race is the fillies' equivalent of the St James' Palace Stakes down the straight Ascot Mile.

Overview

When: Friday 17th June
Time: 4.20pm
Distance: 1 mile
Winning prize money: £283,550
Class: Group 1
Open to: Three-year-old fillies

Key facts:

The Group 1 Coronation Stakes is the natural next step for fillies who ran in the English, Irish or French 1000 Guineas and often establishes the best filly in Europe.

In previous years, the race has always been about Classic form with fillies that ran in the English 1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas or Poule d’Essai des Pouliches dominating proceedings. Of the last 12 renewals, these three races account for nine previous winners. The key race to highlight is the English 1000 Guineas, with 10 of the last 20 winners having ran at Newmarket.

Sir Michael Stoute has four victories in the race, however his most recent being Russian Rhythm in 2003. Aidan O’Brien has not managed to farm this race quite as successfully as he has some of the other Royal Ascot prizes but still has four Coronation Stakes titles to his name.

There has been no stand-out jockey in the race in recent times, with Ryan Moore winning it twice in 2014 and 2017.
One slightly surprising stat is that almost half of the last twenty winners had been unplaced on their previous start. This shows that whilst Classic form is important, placings can easily be reversed with experience and fillies who are slow to come to hand.

The market leaders do have a strong record in the race, having been eight winning favourites or joint-favourites of the Coronation Stakes in the last twenty years.

Five in focus:

Inspiral

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Owner: Cheveley Park Stud
Sire: Frankel
Age: 3
Official Rating: 115
Race Record: 1111
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 9/4
Major Wins: bet365 Group 1 Fillies Mile, Group 2 May Hill Stakes, Listed EBF Star Stakes
Summary: Unbeaten in her career, looking a high class prospect when rounding off her season with a Group 1 win in the bet365 Fillies Mile. Missed the Guineas through injury.

Cachet

Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: James Doyle
Owner: Highclare Thoroughbred Racing – Wild Flower
Sire: Aclaim
Age: 3
Official Rating: 113
Race Record: 15337234 / 112
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 11/2
Major Wins: Group 1 1000 Guineas, Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes
Summary: Likeable filly who made all in the 1000 Guineas, and was narrowly touched off using same tactics in the French equivalent.

Discoveries

Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Jockey: Shane Foley
Owner: Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd
Sire: Mastercraftsman
Age: 3
Official Rating: 110
Race Record: 4131/7
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 8/1
Major Wins: Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes
Summary: Beat Oaks winner Tuesday as a 2-y-o and landed the Group 1 Moyglare. Well beaten in the 1000 Guineas last time.

Prosperous Voyage

Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Rob Hornby
Owner: M Chan/A Rosen
Sire: Zoffany
Age: 3
Official Rating: 112
Race Record: 412322/2
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 7/1
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Continues to improve, and was a fast finishing 2nd to Cachet in the 1000 Guineas last time. Clearly still improving.

Mangoustine

Trainer: Miguel Delzangles
Jockey: Gerald Mosse
Owner: Infinity Nine Horses/Monceaux/Qatar
Sire: Dark Angel
Age: 3
Official Rating: 111
Race Record: 111/31
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 7/1
Major Wins: Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Group 3 Prix Miesque
Summary: Only tasted defeat once, landing the French 1000 Guineas by the barest of margins last time and beating Catchet in the process.

King Edward VII Stakes

The final group race on day four is King Edward VII Stakes over 12 furlongs, contested by three-year-old colts and geldings. The race is often referred to as the Ascot Derby.

Overview

When: Friday 17th June
Time: 5.35pm
Distance: 1 mile 4 furlongs
Winning prize money: £142, 059
Class: Group 2
Open to: Three-year-old colts

Key facts:

The race often attracts horses who were beaten in the Epsom Derby. Although the classic is not a trial, in recent times it has had a big influence on the race outcome. Three of the last twelve winners ran at Epsom, although only Japan (2019) had been placed. Horses who were considered too inexperienced to line up at Epsom also have the King Edward VII Stakes on their agenda.

There have only been three successful favourites in the King Edward VII Stakes in the last twelve runnings, including the brilliant Nathaniel in 2011. However, it is worth noting that all but three of those twelve winners were in the first three in the betting.

The trainer to follow here is Sir Michael Stoute who has won the race no less than seven times. Frankie Dettori and William Buick have four winners apiece, all of Buick’s winners coming in an eight-year spell between 2011 and 2018.

An interesting stat to note is none of the last twelve winners had set foot on Ascot racecourse prior to winning this race.

Five in focus:

Changingoftheguard

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Owner: Westerberg/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith
Sire: Galileo
Age: 3
Official Rating: 110
Race Record: 452/115
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 15/8
Major Wins: Group 3 Chester Vase
Summary: Looks a different horse this term, making all in the Chester Vase before a respectable 5th in the Epsom Derby. Dangerous if allowed an easy lead.

Ottoman Fleet

Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Owner: Godolphin
Sire: Sea The Stars
Age: 3
Official Rating: N/A
Race Record: 21
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 2/1
Major Wins: Listed Fairway Stakes
Summary: Has only had two starts, improved from debut to land Listed event at Newmarket last time. Should continue to improve.

Lysander

Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Owner: Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Beehives
Sire: New Approach
Age: 3
Official Rating: 100
Race Record: 3/13
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 10/3
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Showed promise last term and finished a close third in Listed contest last time. Remains open to improvement.

Dark Moon Rising

Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Owner: Mrs Angie Bailey
Sire: Night Of Thunder
Age: 3
Official Rating: 102
Race Record: 7123/144
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 14/1
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Some strong form without getting his head in front, finishing 4th to Desert Crown in the Dante last time. Upped in trip.

Savvy Victory

Trainer: Sean Woods
Jockey: James Doyle
Owner: Mr Julian Hui
Sire: New Bay
Age: 3
Official Rating: 95
Race Record: 4232/133
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 16/1
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Finished 3rd behind Ottoman Fleet in Listed event last time, has James Doyle in the saddle but would need to improve to challenge market leaders.