Three-year-old fillies get the spotlight June 20 in the Coronation Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot, where Christopher Tsui's My Titania is the early favorite for a top-level breakthrough in the field of 12.
Among two wins from three starts last season, My Titania captured the C. L. Weld Park Stakes (Ire-II) at the Curragh in September to cap her juvenile campaign. She makes her first start of the year in the one-mile Coronation Friday after bypassing QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) at Newmarket in May due to a dirty scope. She also missed the Irish equivalent because of less than ideal course conditions at the Curragh last month.
My Titania is a daughter of 2009 European Horse of the Year Sea The Stars. She is one of five group winners from her sire's first crop and will bid to become his second at the group I level, following Taghrooda in the Investec Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) June 6. She is pegged the 7-2 choice
Lightning Thunder, the 4-1 second favorite, comes in as the runner-up in both the English and Irish Guineas for trainer Olly Stevens. The daughter of Dutch Art is owned by Pearl Bloodstock and Mohammed Al Kubasi.
Trainer Ken McPeek adds some American flavor with Landaluce Educe Stable's Rosalind, 20-1. The daughter to Broken Vow dead-heated for first in the April 5 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland and subsequently finished fourth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 2 at Churchill Downs.
McPeek bids for a first win at the Royal meet after previously sending out three runners in 2010: Tiz My Time (third, gr. III Albany Stakes), Noble's Promise (fifth, gr. I St. James's Palace Stakes), and Casper's Touch (third, Chesham Stakes).
Rizeena, Tapestry, and Kiyoshi, the respective top three finishers in last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I), meet again in the Coronation. French group III winner Lesstalk In Paris also is entered.
Coronation Stakes (Eng-I), 3YO fillies, one mile, turf
No. PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. 1. Euro Charline, M. Harley, M. Botti
2. 11. J Wonder, J. Fortune, B. J. Meehan
3. 3. Kiyoshi, J. P. Spencer, C. Hills
4. 8. Lesstalk In Paris, M. Barzalona, J. C. Rouget
5. 9. Lightning Thunder, H. Bentley, O. Stevens
6. 6. Lucky Kristale, R. Hughes, G. G. Margarson
7. 4. My Titania, D. P. McDonogh, J. M. Oxx
8. 10. Radiator, J. Doyle, M. Stoute
9. 7. Rizeena, R. L. Moore, C. E. Brittain
10. 12. Rosalind, K. Fallon, K. McPeek
11. 5. Sandiva, F. Dettori, R. A. Fahey
12. 2. Tapestry, J. P. O'Brien, A. P. O'Brien
All carry 126 pounds.
