By Tom Frary
“We were perfectly aware that a mile and a quarter on top of-the-ground is not her favourite,” commented John Gosden after Denford Stud's TDN Rising Star Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) had put up a vibrant performance on her comeback in Thursday's G2 Betfred Middleton S. at York, before warning, “When we step her up to a mile and a half she'll be even better.” Already successful over that trip at Royal Ascot when tackling the G2 Ribblesdale S. in June, the grey looks assured the group 1 win her breeders kept her in training for based on this emphatic display but first she will take on the colts in the June 23 G2 Hardwicke S. Settled behind early with Frankie Dettori unconcerned about her speed for this 10-furlong trip, the 2-1 favourite looks to have developed more pace over the winter judged by the way she moved up the gears to take control approaching the quarter pole. Quickly opening up, the homebred was possibly idling out on her own as Horseplay (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) narrowed the margin to 1 1/2 lengths at the line. “She's the best ride–she's brilliant, she's honest and she's got an engine,” her rider commented. “It's just nice to be around her. When you get up on a morning and see your name down to ride her it's a privilege. Her work had been good coming into the race and she was very good today.”
While her name connotes that she is lesser royalty, Coronet who played that role with a quiet purpose last term may be stepping ahead in the line for the crown in 2018. After the Ribblesdale she was in the money without ever threatening to hog the limelight in the G1 Irish Oaks, G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Playing second fiddle to stablemate Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the first two of those, she was also fifth in Doncaster's G1 St Leger in September with the first four being colts of distinction in Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Denford Stud's decision to carry on with Coronet is no surprise, given that several female members of the incredible family of Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}) have progressed with time and maturity. Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) achieved older mare highweight status in the staying contests of England and bagged the G1 Prix Royal-Oak for good measure, while the dynasty's most famous grey Alborada (GB) (Alzao) won two renewals of the G1 Dubai Champion S. at its old home in Newmarket and as a 5-year-old her full-sister Albanova (GB) landed three German group 1s. A branch of this family features the leading Ballydoyle distaffers by Sadler's Wells in Yesterday (Ire) and Quarter Moon (Ire) who both narrowly missed out on Epsom Oaks glory, while their relative also by that sire Dragon Dancer (GB) went even closer when a short-head second in the 2006 G1 Epsom Derby. Last year, Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was not far away either, while cruel fortune intervened this season to rule the exciting Amedeo Modigliani (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) out of the blue riband.
Thursday, York, Britain
BETFRED MIDDLETON S.-G2, £125,000, York, 5-17, 4yo/up, f/m, 10f 56yT, 2:08.01, g/f.
1–CORONET (GB), 126, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Approach (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng, GSP-US, $187,940), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Last Second (Ire), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
O/B-Denford Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £70,888. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng & G1SP-Fr, 10-4-1-2, $570,155. *1/2 to Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 14f+, GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng & Aus, $799,196; and Streetcar to Stars (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Horseplay (GB), 126, f, 4, Cape Cross (Ire)–Mischief Making, by Lemon Drop Kid. O/B-Cliveden Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £26,875.
3–Smart Call (SAf), 126, m, 7, Ideal World–Good Judgement, by Horse Chestnut (SAf). O-Miss Jessica Slack; B-Mauritzfontein Stud (SAF); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £13,450.
Margins: 1HF, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.00, 10.00, 8.00.
Also Ran: Turret Rocks (Ire), Mori (GB), Chain of Daisies (GB), Indian Blessing (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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