The Group One Coronation Stakes (1,594m) at Royal Ascot is where the protagonists of the English, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas inevitably convene to re-establish the pecking order of European three-year-old fillies.
A thrilling finish to Newmarket’s Group One 1,000 Guineas (1,600m) saw 28-1 outsider Elmalka grab glory in the last strides with only one length dividing the first five finishers.
A week later at Longchamp, an equally exciting climax saw Rouhiya shoot between rivals with split-second timing to win the Group One French 1,000 Guineas (1,600m), also an outsider at 31-1.
This pair will meet along with top fillies such as Porta Fortuna and Ramatuelle, who were both so near to winning that Newmarket Classic.
How does Ramatuelle get beat? 😱
— Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) May 5, 2024
She was matched at 1.04 in-running
1000 Guineas winner Elmalka hit 990 on the @BetfairExchange
pic.twitter.com/9G8uvUl2cv
Although the Group One Irish 1,000 Guineas (1,600m) winner Fallen Angel is sidelined through injury, Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer – third in that clash at The Curragh – must also be given a serious chance.
“We had a hold up earlier in the year and we felt we had to run her at the Curragh if she was going to make it to Ascot. We didn’t expect her to run as well as she did as we thought she hadn’t done nearly enough work. It says a lot about her class that she ran that well,” O’Brien said of the runaway winner of last October’s Group One Prix Marcel Boussac (1,600m) at Longchamp, a triumph that earned her the title of 2023 European champion two-year-old filly.
Horses that drop back in trip after competing in 1,600m Classics can have a class edge in sprints and that could apply to Inisherin, who has been supplemented into Friday’s other Group One, the Commonwealth Cup (1,200m).
33/1 shock as Rouhiya fends off Kathmandu in the French 1000 Guineas for Maxime Guyon! pic.twitter.com/IJXCN3xcue
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 12, 2024
He led until outstayed over the last 400m in last month’s 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket, then thrived when being dropped back to 1,200m with a persuasive Group Two win at Haydock.
Dangers in this sprinting test for high-class three-year-olds include Jasour. Failing to settle wrecked his two attempts in Group One company last season but he impressively won the Group Three trial for this here last month and remains unbeaten when Friday’s jockey Jim Crowley is in the saddle.
The Jockey Club simulcasts seven races from day four of Royal Ascot on Friday, with the action kicking off at 9.30pm Hong Kong time.
