Hurricane Could Aim For Vodafone Coronation Cup

The Vodafone Coronation Cup, the first 12-furlong Group One contest of the year in Britain for older horses, has attracted a top-class entry of 32, headed by last season's European champion Hurricane Run, Breeders' Cup hero Shirocco, the 2005 Vodafone Derby second Walk In The Park and star mare Ouija Board.

The prestigious race, which takes place on Friday, June 2, Vodafone Ladies Day, and is worth #250,000, would see trainer Andre Fabre bid for a sixth success if saddling either the brilliant Hurricane Run or Shirocco. The Frenchman has taken the prize five times - with Saint Estephe (1986), In The Wings (1990), Apple Tree (1994), Sunshack (1995) and Swain (1996).

Hurricane Run's record reads six wins from seven career starts, including victories in the Irish Derby at the Curragh and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Hurricane Run's only defeat to date came in the 2005 Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly in June, when his storming late run was not quite enough to overhaul the front-running Shamardal in the Classic.

His stable companion Shirocco, winner of the 2004 German Derby and fourth in last season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, went on to score a famous success in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont on October 29, defeating Ace by one and three quarter lengths.

The superb entry also throws up the exciting possibility of Lord Derby's Ouija Board returning to the scene of her scintillating seven-length victory in the 2004 Vodafone Oaks.

The Ed Dunlop-trained five-year-old is one of the best of her gender in the world, and narrowly failed to add a second Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf to her list of achievements in October, when runner-up to Intercontinental at Belmont Park.

Ouija Board captured the Group One Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December before her fourth to Heart's Cry in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba on March 25 - her first start of 2006.

Walk In The Park, trained in France by John Hammond, ran second to Motivator in the Vodafone Derby last season.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Scorpion was half a length second to Hurricane Run in the Irish Derby before going on to classic success himself in the St Leger at Doncaster where he defeated The Geezer by a length on heavy going. Scorpion disappointed when 10th in the Arc behind Hurricane Run but looks to be one of the potential stars of the coming campaign.

Stable companion Yeats landed the Vodafone Coronation Cup in 2005 under an enterprising front-running ride from Kieran Fallon, which saw him defeat subsequent Group One Japan Cup winner Alkaased by two and a half lengths. Ace completes the high-class trio from Ballydoyle.

Warrsan won this prestigious prize in both 2003 and 2004 for trainer Clive Brittain, while stablemate Hattan finished sixth in last year's Vodafone Derby.

Godolphin's trainer Saeed bin Suroor has won the Vodafone Coronation Cup twice, with Daylami (1999) and Mutafaweq (2001). He has seven entered including Valixir, who captured a brace of Group Ones last term when owned by the Aga Khan.

Godolphin also has St Leger runner-up The Geezer, Group One Gran Premio del Jockey Club winner Cherry Mix, dual German Group One-winning filly Gonbarda, Group Two Prix de Royallieu heroine Oiseau Rare and Guadalajara, who was third in that Longchamp race, and the former Andre Fabre-trained filly Portrayal.

The David Elsworth-trained Norse Dancer is yet to win at the highest level despite numerous admirable efforts, including when runner-up behind Azamour in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes last season. The six-year-old holds an entry alongside two stable companions, the four-year-old fillies Art Eyes and Something Exciting who was second in last year's Vodafone Oaks. Elsworth sent out In The Groove to win the 1991 Vodafone Coronation Cup.

He reported: 'I am looking at the Vodafone Coronation Cup for Something Exciting. She is not a bad filly and is in great form.'

Sir Michael Stoute, with four Vodafone Coronation Cup successes to his name, has Maraahel engaged. The five-year-old posted some smart form last term, including when third to Electrocutionist in the Juddmonte International at York. He filled the same position behind David Junior in Newmarket's Champion Stakes in October, as well as in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin when only a length inferior to local champion Vengeance Of Rain. He was seventh to Electrocutionist at his first attempt on dirt in the Dubai World Cup on March 25.

The master of Freemason Lodge has also entered Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Hard Top and Notable Guest, who defeated David Junior in the Group Three Rose Of Lancaster Stakes in August.

Bandari, winner of the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last term, has been a fine servant to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum and he could bid for a first Group One success, as could the same owner's Mubtaker. Bandari's trainer Mark Johnston has also made entries for Brahminy Kite and Crosspeace.

The Irish challenge includes Kastoria from the John Oxx yard and she was second to Oiseau Rare in the Prix Royallieu at Longchamp in October.

Enforcer, one of the most improved horses in training last term, may represent trainer Willie Muir, while the Luca Cumai-trained Vol de Nuit, twice Group One placed in Italy, and Day Flight, who gained a hat-trick of Group Three successes in 2005, are others entered.

The Sir Mark Prescott-trained Intrigued has not been seen since running fourth to Divine Proportions in the Prix Marcel Boussac in October, 2004.

The French challenge is completed by the Pascal Bary-trained filly Royal Highness who won the Group Two Prix de Malleret at Saint-Cloud in June before running three quarters of a length second to Shawanda in the Group One Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in October.