Winter aiming to take grip on Coronation

Winter has already won two Group 1 races this term and bids for a third at Royal Ascot. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Classic heroines Winter and Precieuse are the headline acts in a field of seven for the Coronation Stakes (4.20pm), run over a mile at Royal Ascot on Friday.

Winter was a decisive winner of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last month and followed up in even more commanding fashion in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh three weeks later. Precieuse, who is trained by Fabrice Chappet, has been supplemented after landing the Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) at Deauville.

Winter, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is odds-on with the bookmakers and will seek to become the first outright favourite to win the race, which forms part of the Fillies & Mares Category of the QIPCO British Champions Series, since the O’Brien-trained Lillie Langtry won in 2010.

“David [Wachman, who trained Winter in 2016] always thought the world of her last year and obviously we were delighted with her start back [when second at Leopardstown in April] and her progress since. I think she’s versatile regards the ground. It was nice, quick ground at Newmarket and slow at the Curragh, but she seemed fine on both and we are very happy with her.”

O’Brien also runs Roly Poly and Hydrangea, who were second and third respectively at the Curragh. North American trainer Mark Casse, successful with Tepin in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, sends over La Coronel, who has won four of her six starts on turf. The field is completed by Dabyah and Tomyris.