By Tom Frary
Denied by a nose by Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in last year's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, TDN Rising Star Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) came back to go one better in another tight finish to the prestige event and gain that richly-deserved top-level success on her eighth attempt. Disappointing when a tame fourth on her return in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket May 4, Denford Stud's grey had given all the right signals in the interim for Frankie Dettori to select her over fellow John Gosden trainee and TDN Rising Star Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Given the recent form of the Italian, it was little surprise that the judgement of the king of Royal Ascot just past proved on the money by a matter of inches as they joined battle at the end. Between the Gosden girls was one of only two French representatives in Ziyad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and it may have been Dettori's unwavering finesse that made the difference as he snuck up the fence in the straight to clinch it in the final metres. At the line, the 11-5 second favourite had a short neck to spare over the Wertheimers' outsider, with Lah Ti Dar making it another thriller a short head away in third.
“We had planned that for a long time and she had improved well from her first run this season,” Gosden explained. “At the top of the straight, Frankie had nowhere to go but managed to find the split and this filly has a lot of heart. Last year, 100 yards from home she was in front when they passed the big screen and got beaten on the line but this time she was behind at that point and managed to be in front where it mattered. We finally have a group one in the bag for her, which she deserves as she is a lovely mare who is so consistent.”
Coronet, who earned TDN Rising Star status on her 2-year-old debut at Leicester in September 2016, had also been to France when third in the following year's G1 Prix Saint-Alary staged at Deauville. Successful in Royal Ascot's G2 Ribblesdale S. and last year's G2 Middleton S. at York, her six other previous tries in this company included two placings in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks apiece, with her latest being a highly commendable length second to Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) on Champions Day in October. Her defeat when the 5-4 favourite behind the enterprisingly-ridden and underestimated Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) in the Jockey Club on 2000 Guineas day was the sole blip in her career since failing to handle Epsom when fifth in the 2017 G1 Epsom Oaks.
Buried early by Dettori, Coronet tracked the pace in fourth as Ziyad was kept honest by Ryan Moore on Lah Ti Dar in front. Hemmed in by the 13-10 favourite Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) turning for home, Frankie had no other option than to sit and pray for the gap to open in front and Maxime Guyon allowed just enough space for her to appear to Ziyad's left on the run to the final furlong. Lah Ti Dar continued to try hard on his other side, but whereas her full-brother Too Darn Hot (GB) is developing into a speed merchant this Lloyd-Webber homebred wants further than this and in the finale it was Coronet's extra portion of dash which told.
Gosden revealed that the first and third could be coming back to France as an ensemble for the newly-revamped and promoted 14-furlong G1 Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp Oct. 5 that he also mentioned in dispatches after the recent Epsom Oaks victory of Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}). “I would imagine a little vacation is now in order and we could possibly think about the [Aug. 22 G1] Yorkshire Oaks for Coronet,” he said. “Lah Ti Dar also ran a great race and probably found this ground too fast. The Prix de Royallieu is a strong possibility for both.”
Ziyad's trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias was salvaging some French pride after Morgan Le Faye beat only one rival. “He has improved with every run and has run his heart out,” he said of the runner-up, who overturned G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly form with Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}). “I would imagine he will now go for the [Aug. 25 G2] Grand Prix de Deauville.”
Coronet's dam is the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. winner Approach (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who was also runner-up in the GII Galaxy S. and G3 May Hill S. She has also produced the G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial-winning sire Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who achieved placings in the G1 Irish Derby, G1 St Leger and G1 Underwood S. and the G3 Ballyroan S. third Streetcar To Stars (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). The second dam Last Second (Ire) (Alzao) was very smart for this operation, winning the G2 Nassau S. and G2 Sun Chariot S. before throwing the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and GI Shadwell Turf Mile hero and sire Aussie Rules (Danehill).
Kin to the G3 Doncaster Cup winner Alleluia (GB) (Caerleon), Last Second is also the second dam of this stable's Listed Cocked Hat S.-winning pair Michelangelo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Private Secretary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) with the former also running third in the G1 St Leger. Alleluia, one of the better performers for Kirsten Rausing's highly influential Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}), is also the dam of another British-trained mare who recorded her group 1 win in this country in the 2007 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Alruccaba's group 1-placed daughter Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) was responsible for the dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) and the triple German group 1-winning Alborada (GB) from matings with Last Second's sire Alzao and both have gone on to make their mark in the paddocks in keeping with family tradition. Approach's unraced 3-year-old filly Fly the Flag (GB) (Australia {GB}) is followed by a 2-year-old colt by Kingman (GB) named Arbiter (GB) and a yearling filly by Frankel (GB).
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €400,000, Saint-Cloud, 6-30, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:28.66, g/s.
1–CORONET (GB), 126, m, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Approach (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng, GSP-US, $187,940), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Last Second (Ire), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
O/B-Denford Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. Lifetime Record: MGSW & MG1SP-Eng, 16-5-4-3, €1,224,825. *1/2 to Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 14f+, GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng & Aus, $799,196; and Streetcar to Stars (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ziyad (GB), 129, g, 4, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)–Arme Ancienne (GB), by Sillery. O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (GB); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €91,440.
3–Lah Ti Dar (GB), 126, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Dar Re Mi (GB), by Singspiel (Ire). O-Lord Lloyd-Webber; B-Watership Down Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. €45,720.
Margins: SNK, SHD, 3HF. Odds: 2.20, 14.00, 4.70.
Also Ran: Aspetar (Fr), Marmelo (GB), Morgan Le Faye (GB), Thundering Blue. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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