Homecoming Queen and Samitar, winners of the English and Irish One Thousand Guineas, respectively, will square off in the $422,500 Coronation Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot on Friday, June 22. The eight-furlong contest highlights the fourth day of racing during the Royal Ascot meet.
The Royal Ascot meeting is being televised daily by TVG from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT.
Aidan O’Brien trains Homecoming Queen, who led from the start on her way to romping to a nine-length victory in the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) May 6. It marked the first group I victory for the Holy Roman Emperor filly, who is a half sister to champion Dylan Thomas. In her next start, the Etihad Airways Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I), she again tried to lead from the start but faltered in the final furlong and faded to fourth behind Samitar.
Joseph O’Brien will be in the saddle.
Samitar will look to build upon her victory in the Irish Guineas, a race she won by 1 1/2 lengths. That form has been franked by the second-place finisher, Ishvana, who came back to capture the Jersey Stakes (Eng-III) at Royal Ascot on June 20. The Mick Channon trainee was also a close second in the Shadwell Fillies’ Mile (Eng-I) as a juvenile. Martin Harley will ride.
Mick Channon also trains Laugh Out Loud, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori. The gray daughter of Clodovil is riding a two-race winning streak, which includes a victory in the Prix de Sandringham (Fr-II) June 3. Laugh Out Loud has won four of her six starts, and has earnings of $154,724.
Total Prix Marcel Boussac (Fr-I) winner Elusive Kate will be making her first start since her appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf (gr. IIT) last November. The John Gosden trainee had a disappointing run at Churchill Downs, finishing eighth. Olivier Peslier will ride.
$422,500 Coronation Stakes (Eng-I, race 3, 10:45 a.m. EDT), 3YO Fillies, 1 Mile (Turf).
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Irish History (Ire), M. Barzalona, M. al Zarooni
2. Homecoming Queen (Ire), J.P. O’Brien, A.P. O’Brien
3. Intense Pink (GB), C. Catlin, C. Wall
4. Samitar (GB), M. Harley, M. Channon
5. Starscope (GB), J. Fortune, J. Gosden
6. Laugh Out Loud (GB), L. Dettori, M. Channon
7. Cardigan (Ire), P. Hanagan, W. Haggas
8. Elusive Kate (KY), O. Peslier, J. Gosden
9. Bugie D’Amore (GB), M. Guyon, A. de Royer-Dupre
10. Russelliana (GB), R. Moore, M. Stoute
11. Fallen For You (GB), W. Buick, J. Gosden
12. Maybe (Doubtful)
All carry 126 pounds.