Sophisticat pounces to win Coronation
Friday, 21 June 2002 20:06
Sophisticat gave Aidan O'Brien and Michael Kinane their second Group One success of the week, following Rock Of Gibraltar's win in the St James's Palace Stakes, when getting up close home to grab the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Sophisticat had to be produced on the wide outside to make her challenge and it was only in the final 50 yards that she headed Zenda to score by a neck. Dolores was two and a half lengths further away in third. Big disappointment of the race was the favourite Gossamer. The Irish 1000 Guineas winner was unplaced after appearing to find the ground too fast.
Johnny Murtagh put his troubles behind him by partnering Balakheri to win the King Edward VII Stakes earlier in the day. Less than 24 hours after being ruled out of the Budweiser Irish Derby when picking up a four-day ban for his winning ride on Royal Rebel in the Gold Cup, Murtagh produced Balakheri to take this Group Two prize by three and a half lengths from Bollin Eric.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
- 6.01 News: With Colm Murray
