La Coronel Seeks the Crown at Royal Ascot

The La Coronel (Colonel John) seen on Kentucky Oaks Day in the GIII Edgewood S. and an effort prior in the Apr. 13 GIII Appalachian S.–both rousing victories–was the one many have been waiting for since last fall. Dominant, flashy and undoubtedly the best of her division, the dark bay filly was a locomotive on the lawn. Still, it was not the most enjoyable of roads leading La Coronel back to her best form after a loss as the chalk left the writing on the wall in November's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S., but trainer Mark Casse stood steadfast in his conviction that the John Oxley colorbearer is 'very, very special'–and now he plans on showing that brilliance to the world.

“We are headed to Royal Ascot with her [for the G1 Coronation S.],” the conditioner confirmed. “She was very impressive [in the Edgewood]. What was so frustrating with her is that at the Breeders' Cup, and take nothing away from the winner, I felt she was the best horse in the race and was so confident going in. She gives you confidence with her ability and how much she puts into her training. It's unfortunate how it turned out, but that's racing. Being able to beat those fillies at Keeneland and Churchill Downs was especially satisfying.”

Casse obviously knows his way around top turf fillies and how to win with them at Royal Ascot, having conditioned Robert E. Masterson's dual champion Tepin (Bernstein) through $4.4 million in earnings and six Grade I victories in three countries, including a historic triumph in the Royal Meeting's G1 Queen Anne S. over a straight mile. The way he speaks of La Coronel, one can hear hope in his tone that she moves forward to fill such formidable racing plates. A trainer never likes to draw too many comparisons between top horses of different generations and ownerships–even a mere three years apart–but it is worth noting the similarities.

La Coronel, like Tepin, began her career on the main track. After two sub-par efforts on the Churchill Downs and Saratoga dirt courses. She quickly moved to the turf course at the latter and was an overpowering four-length graduate and then carbon-copied such supremacy with a victory in the GIII Jessamine S. at Keeneland. She ended her season with a wide and troubled sixth-place run in the aforementioned Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

Tepin, on the other hand, ran two ho-hum Churchill dirt races sandwiched around a Keeneland Polytrack maiden victory to commence her career. She then proved too classy, even on what would prove to be her lesser-preferred surface, when taking the GIII Delta Princess S. at Delta Downs to cap her juvenile season. Her 3-year-old season was a winless four-start fiasco riddled with minor injuries and one flash of brilliance when closing impressively in the GII San Clemente H. at Del Mar.

“The one important thing I've learned about the Tepin experience at Royal Ascot is that it can be done,” Casse explained. “Ideally you might want to take a certain type of horse because there's a lot to do, a lot of moving parts and a lot going on. You can't just take any horse and you have to take one who can handle that. She's not as push-button or laid-back as Tepin, but she's very good and that's why we're taking her. We also know she likes soft ground and that's a big bonus. The main difference with her and Tepin is that in her [mile] race, she has to go around a right-hand turn, which she's never done before. I hope to train her around one before we head over there.

“She came off double knee surgery this winter and has run exceptionally well this spring,” he added. “Nothing serious was wrong, it's just that when we bring them home [to the Casse Family's Ocala, F.L., farm] for the winter, we do a complete physical on them. She had some tiny flakes in both knees, so we decided to just clean them up so it's not anything we have to deal with later. So much was said about Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) and how well he has done at our facility, but as much, if not more, can be said about La Coronel. It's the core of our operation; almost like a farm league for us and it's been invaluable to our success. We have everything a horse could need.”

Assistant trainer David Carroll believes La Coronel has everything she needs to claim the crown at Royal Ascot. Well-acquainted with the multiple graded stakes-winning filly, the County Meath, Ireland native, and former rider for iconic Irish conditioner John Oxx, knows what it takes to skip across the pond and make a big splash.

“It's obviously different from what she's used to, but the most important element of taking a horse over there and competing in a Group 1 is talent and she has an abundance of that,” Carroll said. “She's simply very good and going left or right doesn't matter if you don't have the talent. She also has tactical speed, can quicken and is very tough. I know going right-handed is different, with being on her right lead instead of her left around the turn and keeping her balance, but [jockey] Florent [Geroux] will be riding and he has ridden in Europe a lot. The key is that she's so athletic and in your hands waiting for you the whole time.

“What I was impressed about is that she's physically improved significantly from two to three,” Carroll continued. “A lot of credit goes to Mitch Downs and the team in Ocala, who took great care of her this winter[(before she returned to serious training]. I think the best is yet to come from La Coronel and if you're going to take one over there, she's the kind you want to take. Mark has done an amazing job with her and the rest of the fillies.”

While not yet a darling of the turf, La Coronel is well on her way and her ascension to the crown would be a coronation worth celebrating. In this, America once again has a budding wonder woman in the Casse white bridle worth cheering for on the world stage.