Maids Causeway Earns Coronation by a Short Head

Martin Schwartz' Maids Causeway earned a short head victory over Stonerside Stable's homebred Karen's Caper Friday afternoon in the Coronation Stakes (Eng-I) at the Royal Ascot meeting at York. Mona Lisa finished 3 1/2 lengths back in third while favorite Cape Colombine was fourth.

Maids Causeway, from the first crop of Giant's Causeway   was sent off at 9-2 in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies off a fifth-place finish in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) May 22.

The time for the mile was 1:36.59.

It was the second major win at the Royal Ascot meeting for Giant's Causeway, as his son Shamardal won the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) on Tuesday, nine days after winning the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby; Fr-I) at Chantilly.

Trained by Barry Hills, Maids Causeway raced in second early, led after a half-mile, gave up the lead to Karen's Caper 100 yards from the line, but came on again for the victory over nine rivals.

Out of the Kingmambo mare Vallee Des Reves, she was bred in Ireland by the Vallee Des Reves Syndicate. A two-time group winner at 2, Maids Causeway now has a 3-4-1 slate from nine starts.

Karen's Caper (War Chant--Miss Caerleona, by Caerleon) came into the Coronation off a fourth-place finish in the English One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) at Newmarket May 1. In April she annexed Newmarket's Shadwell Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Eng-III). Karen's Caper is a half-sister last year's Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) winner Miss Cornado (by Coronado's Quest).