Sophisticat Best of 11 in Ascot's Coronation Stakes
Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Sophisticat won the group I Coronation Stakes for 3-year-old fillies June 21 at Royal Ascot and gave trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Michael Kinane their second group I win of the meet.Sophisticat went wide outside to make her challenge as the 11-horse field turned into the straight. In the final 50 yards, Sophisticat overtook Zenda to win by a neck. Dolores was 2 1/2 lengths farther back in third, while Gossamar, the favorite, was fourth.The time for the one-mile event held on good to firm turf was 1:41.69. O'Brien and Kinane also won June 18 with Rock of Gibraltar in the St. James's Palace Stakes. In other stakes, the group II King Edward VII Stakes, a 1 1/2 miles went to the Aga Khan's Balakheri, who won by 3 1/2 lengths over Bollin Eric. First Charter was third. Trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by John Murtagh, Balakheri covered the distance in 2:30.45 on good to firm turf.The five-day Royal Ascot meet ends June 22 with the group I Golden Jubilee Stakes.
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