45 For Juddmonte Coronation Cup

Von Ullman Could Have Strong Challenge For Prestigious Prize

The £200,000 Group One Juddmonte Coronation Cup, run over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs on Ladies Day, Friday, June 6, has attracted a star-studded entry of 45 - a dozen more than in 2007. There are 11 entries from Ireland, six from France and a brace from Germany.

French trainer Andre Fabre has an enviable record in the Juddmonte Coronation Cup, having sent out six winners, most recently Shirocco in 2006. Fabre has four entered for 2008, including Coastal Path, unbeaten in four starts last season and owned by race sponsor Khalid Abdulla, as well as last year´s Prix de l´Arc de Triomphe fourth Getaway, Persian Storm and Quest For Honor.

Like Shirocco, Getaway and Persian Storm are owned by Baron Georg von Ullmann. The same owner also has last year´s German Derby winner Adlerflug and Sommertag entered. The last-named duo race under the banner of his family´s stud, Gestut Schlenderhan, and are trained in Germany by Jens Hirschberger.

Paul Harley, racing manager to Baron Georg von Ullman, said today: "The Juddmonte Coronation Cup is on the agenda for Getaway. It´s part of the plan although it is early days at the moment.

"He has been very well over the winter and Mr Fabre is very pleased with him. Although he had been running over a trip further than a mile and a half, Mr Fabre always said that one day he would bring him back in trip for a Group One.

"He´s a big, late developing horse. The dam is a half-sister to Royal Rebel and he´s huge so he just took time to develop. At this stage, we have every reason to be getting quite excited about him.

"We´ve also entered Adlerflug. He was a good winner of the German Derby and he was a neck second to Quijano in the Grosser Preis von Baden, when Youmzain was back in fourth. Quijano has gone on to advertise that form with good displays throughout the world, including in the Canadian International, Hong Kong Vase and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

"He´s a horse we like a lot and he´s definitely a decent horse in his own right. He´s done very well over the winter and we are very pleased with him. He´s another possible for the Juddmonte Coronation Cup but obviously we won´t be taking each other on.

"If Getaway takes his chance, then Adlerflug could be directed towards the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud or something like that.

"Sommertag has been entered in case there was a need for a little bit of pace. He´s good enough to take them along and he did a good job for Manduro in the Prix Foy. Mr Fabre´s Persian Storm, who finished behind Adlerflug in the German Derby, could also do the same job."

Other leading French-trained contenders include Group One Hong Kong Vase victor Doctor Dino and Zambezi Sun, also owned by Khalid Abdulla and triumphant in the Group One Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp last season.

Reigning champion trainer Aidan O´Brien was successful last season with Scorpion and Yeats in 2005. Yeats is one of nine entries for the Ballydoyle team this year and can be joined by last season´s star filly Peeping Fawn, a four-time Group One winner, the 2007 Irish Derby victor Soldier Of Fortune, Duke Of Marmalade, Honolulu, Macarthur, Red Rock Canyon, last year´s Juddmonte Coronation Cup runner-up Septimus and Song Of Hiawatha.

The Maktoum family´s Godolphin operation, successful with Mutafaweq in 2001 and Daylami two years earlier, has five entered in 2008 - Al Shemali, an easy winner on his reappearance at Nad Al Sheba, Boscobel, Literato, last year´s St Leger fourth Regal Flush and Sagara.

Newmarket handler Sir Michael Stoute has won the Juddmonte Coronation Cup four times and has an interesting quartet entered this year including the 2007 Canadian International runner-up Ask, Galactic Star, the ever-consistent Maraahel, still seeking a first Group One victory at the age of seven, and Papal Bull.

Last year´s Vodafone Derby form is represented by Lucarno, who finished fourth at Epsom Downs behind Authorized before rounding off the year with a fine victory in the final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster. The 2006 St Leger victor, Sixties Icon, is also engaged while an intriguing entry is last year´s Stan James 1000 Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo, who is yet to race beyond 10 furlongs.

Other leading contenders include Youmzain, who ran the race of his life when runner-up in the 2007 Arc de Triomphe, and 2006 Breeders´ Cup Turf hero Red Rocks.

Warrsan showed dramatic progress from handicap company to lift the Juddmonte Coronation Cup in both 2003 and 2004. Hattan, from the family of Warrsan and also trained by Clive Brittain, could bid to follow in his footsteps after making a winning return to action at Lingfield in the Winter Derby last month.