Brilliant Shirocco wins Coronation Cup

Shirocco put up a performance full of class and guts to land the Vodafone Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Christophe Soumillon always had the 8-11 favourite up with the pace and kicked on running down the hill towards the turn for home.

The Breeders' Cup Turf winner then stretched away down the straight and was always holding the challenge of the valiant Ouija Board (11-4), eventually passing the line with a length and three-quarters in hand.

Shirocco, who was an easy winner of the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on his seasonal debut, was quickly out the stalls and led through the first couple of furlongs.
The pace increased when Kieren Fallon allowed the free-running Ace to stride on, although

Soumillon was never far away and his mount glided back to the lead when asked by the Belgian jockey.

Frankie Dettori looked set for a moment to cause real problems for the French raider down the home run but Ouija Board could never quite get on terms, while Enforcer ran the race of his life to stay on and grab third, just half a length away.

Winning trainer Andre Fabre said: "He has fantastic ability and is a wonderful athlete, with all the qualities you expect from a thoroughbred.

"I am very pleased, especially to win this race for the owner."

Owner Baron Von Ullman added: "Thanks to Monsieur Fabre, thanks to the horse and to Monsieur Soumillon.

"He's a very good horse and to win the Coronation Cup against very good other horses in this style says he's not a bad horse."