CORONET bids to go one better than last year when beaten only a nose. Placed at the highest level on another three occasions subsequently, John Gosden’s mare deserves to notch up a Group 1 success and today could be the day. She’s preferred to stablemate and last month’s Group 2 winner Lah Ti Dar, who was well beaten in the Coronation Cup last time along with Marmelo, while Aspetar needs to take a step forward at this level having narrowly beaten the re-opposing Ziyad in a Group 2 at Chantilly recently. Thundering Blue is another with a bit to find but Andre Fabre sent out last year’s winner Waldgeist and Morgan Le Faye, unbeaten in three outings so far this year and placed in Group 1 races in the past, could prove a real threat.
Aspetar (FR) (9-1) won at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Jun beating Ziyad (9-1) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Marmelo 12-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon pushed along tracking leaders on outside, headway on outside under pressure over 2f out, disputing 5th and held when hung left on camber over 1f out, 5th of 9, 9l behind Defoe (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Thundering Blue (USA) 9-1 (9-6) Held up last, steady headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, 3rd and one pace final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Elarqam (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Ziyad (9-1) 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Aspetar (9-1) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Jun.
Coronet 5-4fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, effort 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 5 1/2l behind Communique (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May.
Morgan Le Faye (8-13) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 2 stks gd in May beating Listen In (9-2) by 2l, 6 ran.
Lah Ti Dar 11-4fav (8-11) Raced keenly, tracked leaders until lost place and pushed along on downhill run, last and struggling over 3f out, modest 6th towards finish, 6th of 9, 14l behind Defoe (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.