The Qipco British Champions Series continues with two races at Royal Ascot on Friday, headed by the G1 Coronation Stakes for three-year-old fillies
Roger Varian started Royal Ascot n the best possible style with Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes and he has a good chance of winning a second G1 event in Friday’s Coronation Stakes, when his 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka attempts a double completed five times since the turn of the century.
The absence of the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel, ruled out at the weekend, eases her path somewhat, but Elmalka faces stiff opposition nevertheless in a field of ten, which includes three challengers from Ireland and two from France.
Silvestre de Sousa brought Elmalka from last to first at Newmarket for a shock 28-1 win over Porta Fortuna and Ramatuelle in a three-way photo, but James Doyle takes back the ride and is keen to make up for missing out.
Doyle, who had commitments with Wathnan Racing on Guineas day, said: “I rode Elmalka in her first race of the season, the Fred Darling at Newbury, and she ran a really good race in third, looking a bit unlucky as she got trapped on that stands’ rail.
“Sylvestre rode her in the Guineas, when I was required in France, and she clearly bounded forward for the run at Newbury. It was obviously hard missing out on a Classic win, but there will always be days like that and you just have to take the rough with the smooth.
“Elmalka is a hard one to gauge as she obviously saves all of her best for the track. Her work at home is workmanlike, but that’s just her. She looks great and she’s done well physically since the Guineas, where it probably helped being out the back with the other main contenders at the finish. I think the track and the race will suit her.”
Varian confirms everything has gone to plan since the Guineas. “We weren't tempted to go to Ireland, as she’d had two fairly quick runs, and she’s training lovely,” said the trainer “She looks great and she seems to be getting stronger. She’s not a flashy worker, but I don’t mind that.
“She was a bit green at Newbury, and arguably at Newmarket too, but she’s looking a bit more complete now and there’s no reason to think Ascot’s round mile won’t suit. We are excited about running her.”
Rouhiya, trained for the Aga Khan by Francis Graffard, caused just as big a shock when winning the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas), for her previous form, admittedly over only three races, was nowhere near that level.
It’s interesting that she has been sent here, rather than taking the more conventional French route to the Prix de Diane, but bookmakers are relatively dismissive.
The 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes double was last completed in 2017 by Aidan O’Brien-trained Winter, who led home a stable 1-2-3 that day, and he could be in pole position again with Opera Singer.
Last year’s five-length Prix Marcel Boussac winner, who is joined here by Content, was the top European two-year-old filly of 2023 and is the clear favourite here. She is expected to step up significantly on her third in the Irish 1000 Guineas, where she was making a belated reappearance following a setback.
Cheveley Park Stakes winner Porta Fortuna and Ramatuelle were beaten just a neck and a short head at Newmarket. Both have prospects in this rematch, although they went to Newmarket with a lot more experience than Elmalka.
Oisin Murphy takes over from Aurelien Lemaitre on the Christopher Head-trained Ramatuelle, who travelled strongly at Newmarket before getting to the front plenty soon enough. He won the Coronation Stakes on Alcohol Free three years ago and makes an interesting comparison.
“The Coronation is a climbing mile the whole way, but there is a bend,” said the jockey. “Alcohol Free was a very fast filly, like Ramatuelle, and she won the race on slow ground.”
Murphy added: “It’s very competitive, with the Guineas winners and Opera Singer plus an unbeaten filly of Charlie Appleby’s, but Ramatuelle was very good at two and she’s had a great preparation since the Guineas. The Newmarket run puts her right in the mix even though she didn’t win.”
Murphy also offered a view on Andrew Balding’s Fillies’ Mile third See The Fire, an outsider here but fancied when he rode her in the Guineas. “On her work she’s definitely very good, and I thought she could win the Guineas,” he said. “She was beaten very early, but she’s training very well.”
The unbeaten Appleby filly is Godolphin’s Devoted Queen, taking a big step up in class after winning in Listed company at York last month but open to more improvement.
Her rider William Buick said: “She was good at York, where she was very strong in the last furlong. She seems to have improved for the run, which she’s going to have to have done, and I think the track will suit her. She’s improving at the right time.”
Commonwealth Cup also on Friday G1 agenda
Also part of the Qipco British Champions Series is the Commonwealth Cup, a G1 event on Friday’s card for three-year-olds over six furlongs.
Betting here is dominated by supplementary entry Inisherin and Elite Status, both of whom carry the yellow-and-black silks of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, who won Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes with Rosallion.
“Inisherin is a very fast horse but he was able to win at a mile at Newcastle as they went no gallop,” said trainer Kevin Ryan.
“He ran a hell of a race in the Guineas, but I said to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid afterwards that he could be a sprinter. The Sheikh said let's find out now and then we’ll know where we are going with him.”
Elite Status represents Karl Burke, and he was similarly impressive in Newbury’s Carnarvon Stakes, the race used as a stepping stone by last year’s winner Shaquille, where Malc, Pocklington and Louis Barthas were well held.
• The Qipco British Champions Series showcases 35 of the UK’s finest races, commencing with the the first Classics of the season, the 2,000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
The series features races from all of the UK’s most iconic Flat festivals, from the Derby and Royal Ascot to Glorious Goodwood and York’s Ebor Festival.
The series includes across five different categories – sprint, mile, middle-distance, long- distance and fillies and mares. Five top-class races mark the climax of the series on the nation’s richest raceday, the Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday October 19.
• Visit the Qipco British Champions Series website and the Royal Ascot website
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