The fields for the seven races on Friday’s prestigious Royal Ascot meeting are set, including the two main events on the day, the Commonwealth Cup (G1T) for 3-year-old sprinters and Coronation Stakes (G1T) for sophomore fillies going a mile. Post time for the first race is 9:30 a.m. ET and can be seen on FanDuel TV or NBC’s Peacock Network.
The six-furlong Commonwealth Cup is the only group 1 flat race in Britain for 3-year-olds that permits geldings and is the first age-restricted group 1 race open to geldings in Europe overall. The race was created for the 2015 Royal Ascot season to attract sprint horses based in Europe, a division many deemed previously underappreciated. This year 15 are expected to break from the gate in the race, which has been carded as the afternoon’s 2nd with a post time of 3:05 p.m. local time
Trainer Kevin Ryan will send out the lightly raced Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes winner Insherin, who will be ridden by Tom Eaves. The son of Shamardal has been sharing early favoritism with stablemate Elite Status, who was third over this course in last year’s Norfolk Stakes (G1T). The Havana Grey colt won the Highclere Gin Carnavon Stakes at Newbury last out a month ago.
Coronation Stakes Set To Crown Ascot Princess
Ten fillies are set to head to the gate and race a mile in the the Coronation Stakes (GIT) this year. The race was created in 1840 to celebrate the ascension to the throne of then Queen Victoria and has been a staple of the Royal Ascot meet, carrying the group 1 status since 1988. Listing notable previous winners could take all day, so it’s safe to say just about every winner for the past two decades has proven to be a standout racehorse.
Qipco 1,000 Guineas (G1T) heroine Elmalka could give top conditioner Roger Varian his first win in the signature event and the daughter of Kingman will be making just her fourth career start under James Doyle, taking over for Silvestre de Sousa. Guineas runner-up Porta Fortuna, who won the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1T) at Newmarket before a second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes (G1T), returns for a rematch in this one-mile test. Donnacha O’Brien trains the daughter of Caravaggio and jockey Tom Marquand will ride.
O’Brien’s father Aiden, who has saddled three Coronation winners so far in his career, will send out Coolmore’s Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium des Pouliches (G1T) winner Opera Singer, who was third last out in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas (G1T). The daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify will be ridden by regular jockey Ryan Moore.
Post time for the Coronation Stakes, which is the third race on the day, will be at 3:45 p.m. local time.