Eight were confirmed on Monday morning for a mouth-watering renewal of the Coronation Cup that has returned to it’s place on the Epsom Derby day schedule. The field’s acquired a combined 11 Group 1’s between them, and notably features a rematch between last year’s 1-2.
Calandagan is unbeaten in five runs since finishing second to Jan Brueghel last season, all of them in Group 1 company. He was sent off a short favourite there, but perhaps fell victim to the Ballydoyle pace-setting tactics. Playing devil’s advocate, Jan Brueghel was exceptionally game out in front. The form was reversed at Ascot in the King George, and Jan Brueghel wasn’t seen until Chester last month. It was a pleasing return for him, given a typical Ryan Moore ride at Chester.
It’ll be fascinating to see how the contest is run. Calandagan has looked unstoppable of late, beating the likes of Kalpana and Ombudsman before success in Tokyo and Meydan. The inclusion of Illnois is a likely ploy to play to the hare for Jan Brueghel, but Lambourn’s appearance is certainly of note.
The Derby winner demonstrated sheer tenacity to fend off Bay City Roller at Chester on reappearance. He can be a lazy type, but generally he’s a prominent racer and gives Graffard something else to think about. Coolmore deployed their tactics perfectly to land a 1-2-3 in the French Derby on Sunday, and they’ll do everything in their power to halt the momentum of Calandagan.
Convergent out to follow up career best effort
Convergent will likely have to find 8lbs and to hope the protagonists aren’t on a going day to take this. However, Karl Burke has never hid his admiration for this horse who returned with success at Newbury in April.
The son of Fascinating Rock was the only one somewhat on the bridle three out, and won a shade cosily. He had to suffer for room and switch under Clifford Lee, but was more than classy enough to overcome trouble. He was third to Lambourn in the Chester Vase last season, and his subsequent form earns him a shot here.
Bay City Roller was just denied by Lambourn and will welcome any rain, though he did have the benefit of a run there.
See The Fire has to prove she’s capable in this grade, and the step up in trip is the unknown. However, she’s been placed on multiple occasions in Group 1’s and is very classy on her day.
Sunway completes the field, and he’s begun to work back to form after a disappointing season. He belatedly returned to the winners enclosure after being gelded in Meydan over the winter.
If all eight stand their ground, then we could be set for a scintillating hors d’oeuvre to the Derby.