Coronation Cup

EPSOM, UK--With squally showers and a freezing wind, it wasn't really the day for a 99, unless you're the Aga Khan.  Ezeliya (Fr), the bonny bay filly from a family replete with class and stamina, made the Oaks her own from a long way out, and in so doing broke the Epsom hoodoo of her sire Dubawi (Ire) in becoming the 99th individual Group 1 winner for her stalwart of a breeder. "Days like this are why we all do it," said a beaming Pat Downes, manager of the Aga...

Fifty-eight entries for the Betfred Oaks on May 31 have been revealed, led by last season's champion juvenile filly Opera Singer (Justify). The G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner remains the market leader despite the recent announcement by her trainer Aidan O'Brien that she may miss the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket following a minor setback in training.  Her stable-mate Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is also among the 13 fillies to have been entered from Ballydoyle. Irish trainers Noel Meade, Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld have one entry apiece while Paddy...

Trainer Tom Morley admitted that he was doing a bit of a rain dance Thursday, and his prayers were answered when Friday's Coronation Cup was washed onto the Saratoga main track. Scratched down to a field of just four sophomore fillies, Unified Alliance (Unified) took full advantage while making her first start for Morley and the in-form Javier Castellano. Nicely into stride from gate three, the dark bay filly had early company to her inside in the form of Anna's Arabesque (Munnings), as odds-on L Street Lady (Munnings)--the lone main-track-only...

The BoyleSports odds for Frankie Dettori to be named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year have shortened from 16-1 to 6-1, prior to his G1 DahlBury Coronation Cup/G1 Betfred Oaks double over the Epsom Downs on Friday. The Italian reinsman is retiring at the end of the year, and Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, where he will ride Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), is set to be his final appearance in the historic Classic. Arrest currently sits at 9-2 with BoylesSports, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) eased to 3-1....

Epsom Downs Racecourse has announced the introduction of the Lester Piggott Handicap S. on Derby Day, to be run in memory of the legendary jockey who died a year ago at the age of 86. Frankie Dettori will lay a wreath at Piggott's commemorative statue on Saturday. "It is an honour to be asked to lay a wreath at Lester's statue on Derby Day," Dettori said. "He was a hero of mine who then became a good friend and it's impossible to measure the impact he had on me, both as...

A giant mural celebrating champion jockey Frankie Dettori's remarkable 40-year career was unveiled by Epsom Downs Racecourse on Tuesday. The 52ft by 23ft art installation is located on the side of the Duchess Stand and depicts him in the colours of his 2015 G1 Derby winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). "It was a big surprise," Dettori said. "I was quite embarrassed when I first saw it, actually. I love it. It is amazing, I'm gobsmacked, really. It's the young me and the older me. It was my biggest...

Fan favourite Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), not seen at the races since defeating Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. at Ascot July 23, will not be ready for a tilt at the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Race Course Nov. 5, co-trainer William Muir told At The Races Monday. "I think it will come too soon and there's no way I'm putting pressure on him at any stage," the conditioner told At The Races's Luke Harvey. "He's swimming...

Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will not return to the scene of his greatest triumph for the G1 Coronation Cup after a bout of coughing held up his preparation for his intended comeback at Epsom on June 3. Last year's Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner will head instead to Royal Ascot. "Adayar was an intended runner some months ago but he just met with a minor setback in that he was coughing so I eased off him for a week," said Charlie Appleby via a video...

The G1 Coronation Cup and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. are among the targets that trainer William Muir has set out for Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) for the first half of the year. The 4-year-old-who last year won the G2 King Edward VI S. at Royal Ascot and the G2 Great Voltigeur S. before finishing third in the G1 St Leger-will start out in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket before aiming for the Coronation, the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot and the King...

   Newmarket's second segment of its four-day Guineas meeting plays host to the re-routed G1 Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup on Friday, where the dual G1 Ascot Gold Cup hero Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is an unexpected yet welcome guest to the party. Where the likes of Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Defoe (Ire) (Dalakhani {GB}) and Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {GB}) are regulars at this 12-furlong trip, Bjorn Nielsen's elite stayer has not been over this type of distance since defeat in a 3-year-old handicap at Chester in...

It may be running on its original date but the Coronation Cup has a different location as well as a new sponsor for this year. Traditionally run at Epsom, the Group 1 contest returns to Newmarket for the first time since World War II and in this disrupted season the race sponsorship had become available, allowing young bloodstock agent Sam Haggas to step in to support the race under his Hurworth Bloodstock banner. The son of William and Maureen Haggas and grandson of Lester Piggott, Haggas clearly has a good...