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The Coronation Stakes is the premier race for three-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot and often features a clash between the major Guineas winners. It was first run in 1840 commemorating Queen Victoria’s Coronation from two years earlier. Sir Michael Stoute won his first Coronation with the brilliant Sonic Lady in 1986 and has won this race a further three times whilst Aiden O’Brien and the Gosden stable have been successful on three occasions.
This century only twice has the winner not come from the first four in the betting and that pair were the only ones sent off bigger than 8/1. Three of the last six renewals have gone to the favourite. Here are my Royal Ascot tips for this 4:20 pm BST race on Friday afternoon.
Comhra
Trainer: J S Bolger
Jockey: William Buick
Put up a career best when finishing 1 3/4L third in the Irish 1000 Guineas behind Tahiyra at 150/1. That was easily her best run in eight career starts and if she can re-produce it could hit the frame again but I’m not sure we can truly believe that improved run.
Mammas Girl
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Shock 16/1 winner on her re-appearance of the Nell Gwynn at Newmarket racecourse, scooting clear to win by 2 3/4L. Went off an 11/1 chance when beaten 16L by Mawj and Tahiyra in English 1000 Guineas a fortnight later on soft ground and has a bit to find now with today’s favourite Tahiyra.
Mediate
Trainer: A P O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Top class juvenile, winning the Albany at this fixture and culminating in victory at the Breeders Cup winning the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Disappointed on their re-appearance in the mud at Newmarket in the 1000 Guineas but improved when running Tahiyra to 1 1/2L in the Irish version. 0 from 3 now against Tahiyra but is getting closer and should run well for her top connections.
Queen For You
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Robert Havlin
Lightly raced Kingman filly who impressed when winning here on debut at the beginning of May. Improved when an eye-catching runner-up in listed company at York’s Dante meeting when going down by just a short head to Sounds Of Heaven, looking like the best horse in the race and can turn the tables on that one here but is still officially rated some 18lb behind Tahiyra.
Remarquee
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Rob Hornby
Well-backed when winning the Fred Darling at Newbury on her re-appearance on soft ground but flopped on the similar ground a fortnight later in the 1000 Guineas beaten some 17 1/2L. Yet to race on the lively ground and hard to fancy much.
Sounds of Heaven
Trainer: Mrs J Harrington
Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Took the scalp of the re-opposing Queen For You by a short head at York’s Dante meeting in listed company and there shouldn’t be a great deal between them today though preference would be for the Gosden filly as she came from some way back that day.
Tahiyra
Trainer: Dermot Weld
Jockey: Chris Hayes
A top-class filly who was a bit rusty when going down by half a length to Mawj in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May on soft ground. Followed up by winning the Irish version three weeks later by a length and a half from Mediate who she’s now beaten three times with a canny ride from Colin Keane. Will be very hard to beat with the only negative if the ground was to ride very fast as she’s unproven on a very fast surface.
Coronation Stakes Betting Tips
In the absence of Godolphin’s Mawj who was an eleventh-hour absentee, it’s very hard to oppose Dermot Weld’s top three-year-old filly Tahiyra who followed up a credible second to Mawj in the 1000 Guineas with an authoritative victory in the Irish version from Mediate and Comhra.
Mammas Girl and Remarquee were well behind her in the 1000 Guineas and the biggest threat to the favourite may come from the Gosden’s Queen For You who can reverse their York form with Sounds Of Heaven but she is still rated some 18lb inferior to Tahiyra and this really is hers to lose. Mediate has been beaten three times by Tahiyra and can also hit the frame again.
1. Tahiyra @ 4/7 with Bet365 bonus code
2. Queen For You @ 8/1 with Bet365
3. Mediate @ 5/1 with William Hill promo code
All odds are available at the time of writing.
