Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot: French filly to silence the doubters

This is a flash article due to to the limited time availability of this opportunity, and relates to the Coronation STAKES at Royal Ascot. It should not be confused with our 16/1 pick (Giavellotto) for the Coronation CUP at Epsom a fortnight earlier.

• Francis-Henri Graffard has confirmed in a interview with French racing TV that his star filly Zarigana will go to the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot for her next race. This confirmation will become common knowledge in the English media soon.

  
  

• She will come into that race as the winner of the French 1000 Guineas. Ignoring all the controversy surrounding her promotion over first-past-the-post She's Perfect, Zarigana looked clearly the best filly in that contest given the pace dynamic of the race.

  
  

• Zarigana was given a poor ride in a relatively slowly-run race, compounded by the jockey dropping his whip before the final furlong, and did remarkably well to to join the more prominently ridden winner on the line. We would strongly expect her to confirm the form with the 2nd (She's Perfect), 3rd (Mandanaba), and 4th (Exactly), all of whom have alternative possible engagements anyhow.

  
  

• The chances of English 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower – currently favourite for the Epsom Oaks on 6 June – lining up in the Coronation Stakes look microscopically small.

  
  

• If Lake Victoria wins the Irish 1000 Guineas this coming Sunday comprehensively, she will be a very difficult (short-priced) favourite to beat – if she goes to Royal Ascot. But Zarigana will be the clear second-favourite even in that scenario, and it would be a very great surprise if she were not placed. On this basis an each-way play appeals, not least as this French filly is a rock-solid performer: no horse has ever finished more than a nose in front of her.

  
  

• A wager before the upcoming Irish 1000 Guineas on 25 May is recommended, as the price is unlikely to last long and any result other than a Lake Victoria victory on Sunday could propel Zarigana to outright favouritism.

Recommendation: Back Zarigana each-way at 9/2 to win the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on 20 June with Bet365.