Royal Ascot is the biggest week in the British flat racing calendar. Alongside a plethora of Group 1s, racing fans are treated to some of the most competitive handicaps of the year, and some cracking juvenile contests that unearth future stars. In anticipation of this year’s meeting, Daryl Carter is providing his expert analysis and ante-post betting selections for all of the big Royal Ascot races. Here, Daryl provides his thoughts on the Coronation Stakes – one of the highlights on Day 4 of Royal Ascot.
Mother Earth
No surprise to see 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth at the top of the market, but that race did look a below-par renewal this year, and she was beaten in the French equivalent next time. However, she looks like a progressive horse but has been behind a couple of these previously and offers no value at the current prices.
Pretty Gorgeous
Had Mother Earth in behind in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and at the Curragh in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes and has some of the strongest form on offer. She was lacking for race fitness, as a few have been for this yard, when beaten in the Irish 1,000 Guineas but it would be folly to write her off on that run.
Primo Bacio
Has improved leaps and bounds this season in two starts winning impressively at York in a Listed event. She has a bit to find on the bare form but had so much in hand at York. This is the next logical step, and should she improve again as she has done between each start, she looks like a major player, but her price is about right.
Santa Barbara
Likely to head to the Epsom Oaks before this event, and that will see her future trip decided, which on the evidence of her 1,000 Guineas 4th, looks to be over 1m 1/2.
Bellosa
Has been a revelation in two starts winning both in good style at Newmarket over 7f. She will need to improve further to win this and did look to hang in the closing stages of her latest run to suggest she was tiring. She looks more of a 6f sprinter than a miler to me, so best left alone.
Mehnah
Kevin Prendergast looks to have another useful one on his hands here after her staying on second in a Group 3 at Leopardstown in which she had some solid yardsticks in behind. That was just her second start on a racecourse and first for 198 days. She hasn’t been missed by the market, though.
Indigo Girl
She looked outstanding as a two-year-old and rounded off her season with a 1/2 length second to Pretty Gorgeous at Newmarket in the Fillies’ Mile in which she failed to handle the track. That worth forgiving given the impressive style of victories the twice before, and the form of those two runs look strong. She’s perhaps the forgotten horse in the field.
Conclusion
I am a huge fan of Primo Bacio, but her price is right at this stage. The one who is the wrong price entirely is INDIGO GIRL. She has some rock-solid form and wasn’t seen to best effect behind Pretty Gorgeous. There is plenty more to come from her, she has an Epsom Oaks entry, but her trainer has said she is a 1m- 1m2f horse and not like her sister, so maybe they are testing the water and could drop back in trip for this.