Coronation Task Set For Discoveries

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | 4:22 pm

Updated: May 11, 2022 at 4:43 pm

REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY Launch of Longines Irish Champions Weekend, Dublin 14/8/2018 Pictured is Jessica Harrington at the media launch of Longines Irish Champions Weekend at the Royal College of Surgeons, Tuesday August 14 is. The premier weekend in the Irish racing calendar will take place at Leopardstown on September 15 and the Curragh on September 16, and will comprise 16 races over two days, including six Group 1 races Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry

Group 1 winner Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is set for the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot in June, trainer Jessica Harrington revealed. The bay's full-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half-sister Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) both won the contest in 2018 and 2020, respectively. She will attempt to become the third filly out of Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy) to complete the hat trick in the Niarchos family's Flaxman colours.

Harrington said, “The plan is to go to Ascot to get the three fillies to win the Coronation S. We'll train her for that, there's lots of races for her, they have just come a bit close together.”

A winner of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. as a juvenile, Discoveries ran seventh after racing near the vanguard in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas on May 1.

She continued, “She's grand, we're very happy with her. Maybe the ground was a bit fast for her at Newmarket.”

Harrington also announced plans for Zhang Yuesheng's G3 Flame Of Tara S. heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will skip the G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 3. In action at Navan last month, the filly finished second by a short head in the Listed Salsabil S. and is also pointing to Royal Ascot.

“She's not going to go to Epsom, she's going to go straight to the [G2] Ribblesdale [S.] and then on to the Irish Oaks [on July 16],” said Harrington.