Coronet gets up to beat Mori © Photo Healy Racing
Coronet just denied Mori in a thrilling finish to the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Mori, who was bidding to give trainer Sir Michael Stoute a record 76th winner at the Royal meeting, looked set to strike as she reeled in Hertford Dancer, only for 9-1 shot Coronet to swoop down the outside in the hands of Olivier Peslier.
In a fascinating renewal of the Group Two contest, Silvestre de Sousa stole a march on his rivals as he tried to make all on The Sky Is Blazing, building a lead of upwards of 10 lengths - an advantage she still held turning for home.
However, she began to toil with over two furlongs to run, allowing Hertford Dancer to assume the lead which she held until under a furlong to run.
Impeccably-bred favourite Mori - who is by Frankel out of Midday - was the first to edge in front, but then Peslier launched a perfectly-timed challenge to just prevail by a neck on the John Gosden-trained winner, with stablemate Hertford Dancer clinging on for third.
Peslier said: "It was a good gallop, which was a big help for me.
"After the last corner, I didn't really have the gap to come. I just let the filly come slowly, I didn't want to push her too hard.
"John did say the filly takes a bit of time, but when she comes she comes home well. That is why I didn't panic, I took a bit of time and came late."
Gosden was pleased with the performances of both the first and third.
He said: "That was great. There was a strong pace and it was a great test of a mile and a half.
"I thought Hertford Dancer had the race won. She'd been close enough to the pace, but she ran a great race and was ridden well.
"I told Olivier his filly would come on strong late. I thought Mori was going to win and then Olivier came and grabbed her.
"It was a great run from Coronet. She ran in the Oaks and liked the uphill but not the downhill.
"It was a high-class race today."
