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Coronation Stakes has classic field
GHANAATI, rested since her outstanding victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, can see off the challenge of two other classic winners in today's Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Barry Hills' filly went into the classic as an outsider – hardly a surprise after just one all-weather success – but emerged a real champion. Always travelling sweetly under Richard Hills, she took up the running at the two furlong mark and never looked in the slightest danger from then on.
The daughter of Giant's Causeway hails from a family that improve with age and her trainer decided not to send her to the Curragh for the Irish version in order to keep her fresh for this.
That latter event was won narrowly by Again from Lahaleeb and both take on Ghanaati here. The consensus of opinion at the Curragh was that Johnny Murtagh had 'kidded' the filly to victory as she pricked her ears passing the post and hardly knew she had been in a race.
Jean-Clause Rouget's rise to prominence has been well documented this week and the Pau-based handler runs his French 1000 Guineas winner Elusive Wave. An all-the-way winner at Longchamp, she will find this opposition much tougher and it will be a surprise if she fends of the challenges of high-class opposition as she did in France.
Rainbow View is the enigma of the race. Supposedly the best juvenile filly for many years, she failed to sparkle when odds-on at Newmarket and though running well in the Oaks it seems her bubble has burst.
It's a great tribute to the pulling power of the Royal meeting that three classic winners are involved in this classy renewal and hopefully Ghanaati can frank the Newmarket form.
The King Edward VII Stakes, regarded as a consolation prize for horses that have been placed or run well in the Derby, looks a little threadbare this year as the three who ran at Epsom did not really distinguish themselves. Debussy did best in eighth with Dante Stakes winner Black Bear Island a couple of places behind and Montaff last. There's no doubt the race wasn't run to suit Black Bear Island who came from a mile back to catch stablemate Freemantle on the Knavesmire.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
