Alcohol Free wins Coronation
A juvenile Group 1 winner last year, Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) added a second win at the top level to her resume in the G1 Coronation S. over 1600 metres.
Getting into trouble after the break when ducking left, Alcohol Free was quickly corrected and sat in midpack. Jockey Oisin Murphy sent her for the lead with just over 400 metres to run and she had the lead by the time they entered the closing stage of the race. The filly did well to hold off Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by 1.5l at the line with Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in third.
“I didn't get a chance to stress ahead of Alcohol Free,” Murphy said about the race coming just after he was disqualified in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. “I had a plan and I don't know if Andrew agreed with me, but he filled me with confidence when I told him what I was going to do.”
By former shuttle stallion No Nay Never (USA), Alcohol Free’s dam is by another former shuttler in Hard Spun (USA). Alcohol Free is one of two stakes winners out of Plying (USA) and from the family of Australian stakes-placed Sniplaz (Zaha {USA}).
Campanelle wins controversial Commonwealth Cup
Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) led nearly all the way in the G1 Commonwealth Cup over 1200 metres against the males until the final 100 metres when she was headed by Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}). But in the end, she came out the winner.
The filly had suffered interference from Dragon Symbol a few hundred metres from the line and though her foe finished first, after a long inquiry Campanelle was declared the winner. It was the second Royal Ascot victory for the American-trained filly, whose margin of defeat was a head at the line. Both Campanelle and Dragon Symbol were well ahead of the field with Measure Of Magic (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) finishing 5l back in third.
“We are elated,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “Both horses ran fantastic, they dug down deep and they were only inches apart. I think it was a validated result - in the United States terms, he has taken her across the track. Archie Watson shook my hand after the enquiry, a true gentleman.”
Campanelle is out of stakes winner Janina (GB) (Namid {GB}), who herself is out of a Group 3 winner. Janina is the dam of four winners from five to race, including the two-time winning Exceed And Excel son Suwaan (Ire).
Campanelle (Ire) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Sandrine takes out Albany
It was a first stakes winner for former Twin Hills Stud shuttle stallion Bobby’s Kitten (USA) on Friday when Sandrine (GB) won the G3 Albany S. over 1200 metres.
The juvenile was always prominent and David Probert gave indications he had plenty of horse under him as they raced toward the 400 metre marker. The filly took up the challenge for the lead 200 metres later and secured the lead in the closing stage. She was an easy winner of the race when flashing under the line 1.5l ahead of second-placed Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) with Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) in third.
“All my animals are homebred, so it gives me tremendous pleasure to keep the continuity,” said owner Kirsten Rausing, who has owned the filly’s family for six generations. “I also tend to support my own stallions, and this filly is Bobby's Kitten’s first stakes winner, first Group winner, so we are thrilled with that.”
It was a one-two finish as a damsire for Pivotal (GB), who has played the part in multiple results this week. Sandrine is a granddaughter of Group 3 winner and G2 Queen Mary second Starlit Sands (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Sandrine’s dam has produced two winners from two to race with the other runner fourth in a stakes race.
Alenquer wins again in King Edward
A winner of three of his four career starts, Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) became a Group 2 winner with a victory in the King Edward VII S. on Friday.
The 3-year-old was settled in the rear of the field by Tom Marquand early in the 2400 metre race before asked to make a serious move with 400 metres to go. The colt had the lead inside the final 200 metres and wasn’t willing to let anyone mount a true challenge with Tasman Bay (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) relegated to second after losing his lead when Alenquer took it in the final stages. Title (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was in third 2.5l behind the runner-up.
“Alenquer is turning into a really nice horse,” said assistant trainer Maureen Haggas. “He didn’t do much wrong last year, but he was probably a bit immature still. He surprised us a little bit at Sandown - the manner in which he won - but he’s more grown up this year. He’s a bit of a boy at home, but at the races this year he’s been really professional and focused, and he’s definitely going the right way."
Alenquer is out of a half-sister to stakes winner Wilder Wein (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) with the family also including one time Australian runner Mr Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), who is out of a half-sister to Alenquer’s grandam.
Alenquer (Fr) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
