Mother Earth winning the Newmarket 1000 Guineas© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O’Brien and his son Joseph have a strong hand going into Friday’s feature at Royal Ascot, The Coronation Stakes, a Group 1 contest for three-year-old fillies.
Aidan has the luxury of saddling both the Irish and English 1000 Guineas winners, Empress Josephine and Mother Earth, while Joseph runs the talented Newmarket Fillies Mile winner Pretty Gorgeous.
All three will have their supporters but slight preference is for Mother Earth who is both consistent and ground versatile and is fairly-priced at 7/2 with BetVictor.
The Day 4 action begins with the six furlongs Albany Stakes for 2-y-o fillies and we may see another O’Brien-trained winner. Aidan is represented by the regally bred Prettiest, a daughter of multiple Group 1 winning mare Alice Springs by Dubawi. She was easy to back on debut at Navan three weeks ago but produced a taking performance from the front. Prettiest is 5/1 with BetVictor for this fifteen-runner contest filled with unexposed potential, but it will be disappointing if she doesn’t at least make the frame.
Alenquer is sure to have his supporters in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at 2/1 with BetVictor. He beat subsequent Epsom Derby winner Adayar on his most recent start over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Sandown in April. The extra two furlongs of today’s race is a slight question mark, but he didn’t appear to be stopping at Sandown and on balance he will be difficult to beat with a similar performance.
BetVictor go 9/2 about last year’s Queen Mary winner Campanelle repeating the dose in the Commonwealth Cup for Wesley Ward but the Ken Condon-trained Miss Amulet could represent a bit of each-way value at 20/1. She finished ahead of Campanelle at the Breeders’ Cup and can be forgiven her poor display on seasonal reappearance when finishing down the field in the Irish 1000 Guineas on heavy ground. She was speedy type as a 2-y-o and if retaining that ability could easily out-run her odds.
BetVictor go 11/1 the field for the maximum field Sandringham Handicap over the straight mile. There are seven Irish runners in the line-up and all appear to have some chance of making the frame but if there is significant rain it will help the cause of Johnny Murtagh’s Create Belief which was a ready winner over the distance in heavy ground at the Curragh on Irish 2000 Guineas Day. She is 14/1 with BetVictor.
Murtagh also has prospects in the equally-difficult Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap where he saddles 12/1 shot Mirann. He was denied a run at a crucial stage when second to Baby Zeus last time at the Curragh and should go well again.
BetVictor are offering a daily refund on all losing bets on the first race each day at Royal Ascot. Simply opt into the promotion, place a bet on the 14:30 race and if your bet loses you will get your stake refunded in cash up to €5. T&Cs Apply. 18+ gamblingcare.ie.
