G1 Coronation Cup

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}--La Pyle {Fr}, by Le Havre {Ire}) will stand under the Coolmore National Hunt banner in 2024, Coolmore announced on Friday. Retired earlier this year before being acquired by Coolmore, the 6-year-old won both the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 Coronation Cup. A fee will be announced later. "Pyledriver is the best horse I've ever had anything to do with and gave us so many fantastic days," said co-trainer William Muir. "From day one he never...

Juddmonte's Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran a strong second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, will make his return in the June 2 G1 Coronation Cup, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. Successful in the G3 Classic Trial at Sandown last April prior to a third in the G1 Derby at Epsom, the bay stormed to a seven-length victory in the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh in late June. Leading for part of the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., he failed to...

Fresh off of his victory in the G3 Ballysax S. on Sunday, White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) leads 19 other colts as second entries for the G1 Derby at Epsom on Saturday, June 3. Owned by Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez and trained by John Murphy, the colt scored a half-length upset in the Ballysax at 22-1. Several Derby second entries were also made by Charlie Appleby on behalf of Godolphin. Leading the sextet is GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf second Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), while listed winner Naval Power...

Juddmonte's 2022 Classic hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), second in Saturday's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, is pointing to either the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the end of May, or the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom, one week later for trainer Ralph Beckett. Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said, "We were a little nervous going into Saturday, but luckily it all worked out well and he ran a blinding race and that should settle him down and set him up for what will hopefully be a good season. "The Tattersalls...

While Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Epsom understandably focus on the Derby, we should remember that that great race, in which she owned the runner-up Aureole (GB) just days after her Coronation in 1953, is not the only big race at the meeting which has close links to Britain's Royal Family.  Arguably even stronger are the ties which bind Epsom's big weight-for-age race, the G1 Coronation Cup, to the monarchy. This prestigious contest is run over the Derby course for 4-year-olds and upwards and serves as the natural target...

Last year's G1 Coronation Cup victor Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is pleasing co-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick ahead of a title defence of that Epsom contest on June 3. The 5-year-old entire, who races for the La Pyle Partnership, won the Listed Churchill S. in November of 2021 and signed off his year when second by a length in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December. He was unplaced in the G3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia, but improved to fourth in Meydan's...

Dual Group 2 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is being aimed at Epsom's June 4 G1 Coronation Cup. Co-trainer William Muir, who trains with Chris Grassick, has indicated his stable star exited his second-place finish in the G2 Jockey Club S. on May 1 in good order. A winner of the G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. in 2020, Pyledriver was also third in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster in September prior to an unplaced run in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. a month...