Day four of Royal Ascot went pretty much as planned for the Ballydoyle juggernaut, as Winter secured the second part of a big race double by running away with the Coronation Stakes.
The daughter of Galileo was held up in the early stages under Ryan Moore with French 1,000 Guineas heroine Precieuse leading the way.
Swinging into the home straight, the leader was hassled by Winter’s stable mate Roly Poly, who came upsides inside the three furlong pole.
All the while, Winter was making steady headway among horses and shot to the front over a furlong out. She kept on well inside the final half-furlong to take the prize by just over two lengths, the others unable to land a significant blow.
Just under a month on from an emphatic win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, which meant she completed the English – Irish Guineas double, Winter now makes it three Group 1s in a row.
“She was very smooth, she was always felt in control of the race really,” reflected Moore.
“She only did what she had to do today, I just asked her and she found plenty. It’s hard to win those three races and she’s a good filly to do that.”
For Aidan O’Brien, this victory registers as his third in the one mile contest for fillies. His first came with Sophisticat in 2002 , with the second following on eight years later with the dam of Minding, Lillie Langtry.
O’Brien said: “She’s getting more relaxed. She’s a big filly who is thriving from race-to-race. She gets the trip very well, she’s very classy and is a great traveller.
“She’s had four races quick enough, but she’s doing well and enjoying it. She’ll get further later on so we might look at races like the Nassau. I thought her best furlong was the last. She galloped out.”
Earlier in the afternoon, the Mark Johnston-trained Permian bounced back to form in tenacious fashion to claim the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes.
It’s hard to win those three races
Having raced handily throughout, the son of Teofilo kicked on to the front off the home bend. With a two length lead going to the final furlong he was always finding enough to hold the late charge of Khalidi by half-a-length.
Caravaggio maintained his unbeaten record by wearing down his main rivals in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.
Although still someway behind Godolphin’s recently acquired colt Harry Angel with two furlongs to go, the three-year-old picked up strongly to the far side and led within the final 100 yards to score by just under a length.
