Short Field to Coronation Pilsner
Race: The Coronation Pilsner – Grade I – $500,000
ID: 4330.3413
Track: Surrey (ENG)
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: One mile and one half on the Turf
Its a major week of group races this weekend here in Surrey, England, with four group races on the card. The thirteenth race on the card for this Saturday will be The Coronation Pilsner (G1). The prestigious race is run over a mile and a half on the turf and will be the last Group 1 race run over the field that day, though it will be followed up by a Group III race. The Coronation Pilsner (G1) will be open to four-year-olds and up. Last years’ winner of the race was zatopeck’s Oisans (JPN) who set a time of 2:29 for the race. We’ll have some light showers in the days leading up to The Coronation Pilsner (G1), but by post time on Saturday the weather should be cleared up and the track listed as firm at post time. There has been a total of five horses to draw into the race this year, lets take a look at this years contenders.
1. Monte Youn (IRE) – (Doyoun (IRE) x Selkirk x Sword Dance (IRE)) – monte1 of Ace Ace Two Three Double Suited Stables – K. Marky – 2/1
The oldest horse in the race this weekend at the grand old age of ten, the Irish-bred is lightly raced with just twenty-four lifetime starts. The light gray horse has won nearly half of these starts, crossing the wire first in ten of these races. The most recent start for the horse was last month in Australia during the twelve furlong The 5-Series (G1). The light gray horse broke out of the number eight post and went right to the lead in the race. The horse never lost position has he crossed the wire an impressive five and three-quarter lengths in front of his closest competition, etching in a bristling speed figure of one hundred ten over the good turf track. The horse will likely be forwardly placed again this weekend, likely right on the lead out of the gate. The only question about this horse may be his advancing age, though so far he has shown no signs of slowing down.
2. Carnival Of Love – (Giant’s Causeway (IRE) x Kingmambo x Danzig) – super15 of More Evil Than The Evil Empire! – R. Harzheim – 9/5
Out of the graded winning broodmare Vera Gemini, the four-year-old colt has made eighteen lifetime starts, winning seven times in his career and bringing home over five million dollars in career earnings. The chestnut colt made his most recent start in The Clubhouse Stakes (G2) earlier this month nearby in Newmarket. After breaking out of an inside post, the chestnut colt was held back in the middle of the pack. He was urged to start to make a move at the third call of the race. The chestnut colt would narrowly miss out on the win, finishing second by a quarter of a length off from his competition. The colt set a speed figure of one hundred twelve. The most recent victory for the cot was in the Reclamation Restricted (G1) over thirteen furlongs in British Columbia. The colt won this race by two lengths, setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred seventeen in the process. The colt will likely either be at the very back of the field on Saturday, or he could be running up towards the middle of the pace.
3. Future Dream – (A.P. Indy x Sadler’s Wells x Nijinsky II) – kevoman2 of Kevoman Stables – J. Lawler – 6/1
Lightly raced with just nine lifetime starts, the four-year-old colt is out of the Group I winning broodmare True Dream. The brown colt has won six times so far in his nine race career. The Kentucky-bred has been on fire recently, winning four consecutive races. This weekends start for the colt will be just his second graded stakes start of his career. The most recent start for the colt was earlier this month in France during The Honey Do (G3) over twelve furlongs. The brown colt took off out of the gates near the front of the pack, just behind the front runner. Midway through the race he took control, then crossed the wire in the lead by three and three-quarter lengths with a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred eleven. The other three races comprising of his winning streak were the listed Saddle Dedicate Special and two allowance level races. The colt will definitely be towards the front of the pace this weekend, probably no further of the pace than second out of the gate.
4. The Gun Went Off – (Mineshaft x Danzig x Buckpasser) – lenny12 of The Empire – D. Aniel – 5/2
With a good level of experience coming from thirty-one career starts, the five-year-old horse has brought home and impressive total of $10,672,520 in lifetime career earnings. The horse made his last start here in England during The Clubhouse Stakes (G2) over twelve furlongs. The horse ran just off the pace of the front runners, then started to make up some ground in the stretch. He would finish third, two and a half lengths off the pace. He set a speed figure of one hundred ten. The most recent victory by the horse came by a measure of a quarter of a length in the Japan Classic (G1). The horse has also emerged victorious in last years Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic (G1) and Arc de Triomph (G1). He’s also come home second for the 2008 running of the Derby de English (G1) and last years’ Breeders Bowl Turf (G1). The horse will likely take his sweet time at the back of the park on Saturday, running the role as a deep closer, which could put him in a good position this weekend.
5. Crusading Enforcer (IRE) – (Montjeu (IRE) x Kingmambo x Deputy Minister) – foxon5 of Foxon Stables – R. Whisper – 6/1
Making his twentieth career start this weekend, the chestnut colt has won nine races in his career, bringing home over five million dollars for his connections. The Irish-bred four-year-old made his most recent start earlier this month in The Spring Cup (G1), held in Japan. Breaking towards the middle of the pack in his middle post position, the colt wasn’t urged forward to challenge until the field came into the the stretch, where the chestnut went on to cross the wire in third. However, the son of Montjeu (IRE) was still eleven and three-quarter lengths behind the eventual winner. He set a speed figure of one hundred one in the race. The colts most recent win was in March during the Ackland Cup (G1) at sixteen furlongs in New Zealand. Again held towards the middle of the pack, the colt started moving a little earlier, winding up with an impressive three length win. Most impressive on the colts resume are his 2009 victories in both the Derby de English (G1) and the Sydney Derby (G1). On Saturday the colt will likely be positioned either towards the middle of the pack, or at the very rear, playing the role as a late closer on the rest of the field. Where he’s at will depend greatly on the pace out of the gate this weeekend.
Flrancho’s Picks
Win: Carnival Of Love
Place: The Gun Went Off
Show: Future Dream