Inspiral and Cachet lead British charge in Coronation Stakes

Friday’s Coronation Stakes features a mouth-watering rematch between the QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner Cachet and Mangoustine, the filly who beat her by just a head in the French equivalent, yet it is last year’s champion two-year-filly Inspiral who is stealing much of the limelight on this belated reappearance.

Clashes between at least two of the three main Guineas winners are not uncommon in the Coronation Stakes, which is one of 35 races in the QIPCO British Champions Series, and if the ground at Ascot had not been on the quick side – in complete contrast to12 months ago when it was heavy – we would also have expected to see the runaway Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs too.

However, even allowing for the absence of Homeless Songs, this year’s running really looks quite special, with a field of 11 also including the QIPCO 1000 Guineas runner-up Prosperous Voyage, last year’s Cheveley Park Stakes winner Tenebrism, the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Discoveries, and two top-class fillies from America.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Inspiral carried all before her at two, and connections were entitled to be left rueing a Classic that got away when Cachet and Prosperous Songs fought out the Guineas finish, having had the pair back in third and second respectively when a stylish winner of the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on her final start last year.

The Guineas had simply come too soon for Inspiral, who has only lately begun pleasing. John Gosden, who also saddles Ascot winner Grande Dame, explained: “Inspiral was very slow coming to hand this year. It can happen to some fillies hormonally in the spring. She’s taken a long time to come right, and you don’t want to rush them.

“She had a tough spring. You don’t want to be forcing them and she was like a little bud that stayed tight, but we are very hopeful we’ll get her there in good order. We are beginning to see the filly of last year again, so hopefully she’ll put in a big performance. It will be great to have her back and her form from last year has looked great this year.”

Boughey hoping for Royal success with Cachet

Although she held on only narrowly, Cachet was dominant throughout the Guineas, where she was a popular first Classic winner for George Boughey, in just his third full season, and James Doyle. 

The Highclere Thoroughbreds filly is coping with another demanding schedule well, and Boughey believes she might even have improved again. He said: “I think her work has stepped forward again and she looks stronger. From Newmarket to Longchamp we were kind of just taking it on trust that she’d back up, but we’ve had a very easy prep from the second Guineas to now and her work has been good.

“She was coming back at the end at Longchamp and I slightly blame myself. We were drawn wide and I didn’t want to blow her in front so told James to crawl round if he could and turn it into a sprint. I’m very confident she stays a mile well and so we’ll possibly look to make plenty of use of her. The weather looks set fair for fast ground, which her best form is on.”

While Boughey is hopeful of turning the tables on Mangoustine, who is part-owned by former basketball star Tony Parker, the French filly’s veteran rider Gerald Mosse, successful in the 1993 Coronation Stakes on Gold Splash and in 2011 on Immortal Verse, believes his mount had more to give. 

Mosse, who is preparing to start training before too long, said: “It’s going to be competitive, but it’s always good to see the top fillies meet in races like the Coronation Stakes. I think Royal Ascot will suit her. English races are normally run at a good pace, and I think she’ll enjoy the uphill finish and long straight. She’s got great acceleration. She has everything. She’s nice.”

Prosperous Voyage, beaten only a neck, is among those seeking to turn the tables on Cachet after being beaten at Newmarket, along with Sandrine (fifth), Discoveries (seventh) and Tenebrism(eighth).

Her trainer Ralph Beckett said: “It will be tough for her, but she’s one that will be suited if it’s quick. We had a bit of bad luck when her trip to France for the Prix Saint-Alary had to be aborted, but she’s worked well since and we are ready to go. She’s in good shape and I’m pretty hopeful.”

Aidan O’Brien hopes he can explain the disappointing run of Tenebrism, a daughter of Immortal Verse. He said: “Her run in the Guineas was a bit inconclusive. Ryan (Moore) said she was caught between two horses for the first three and a half furlongs and so was just doing too much. 

“She over raced, so we couldn’t say if she didn’t get the last furlong because of that or because of the trip. We’ve given her plenty of time to get over it and we’ll try again and see what happens. She is in good form.”

Graham Motion, whose Sharing chased home Alpine Star in the 2020 Coronation Stakes, is hopeful of Spenderella, who made her debut only in February but is unbeaten in three starts, including a Group 3 and a Group 2. 

He said: “At this point the ground looks like it will be in our favour. She is training well and this has been her target for a while. Alice [Clapham, assistant] seems very happy with her and that gives me confidence to think we are in a good spot.”

Her compatriot Pizza Bianca, representing Christophe Clement, won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on firm ground at Del Mar, where she had Cachet back in fourth. She is another who should not be underestimated in this open race.