Cercene gave jockey Gary Carroll and trainer Joseph Murphy a day to remember when bravely holding off French hotpot Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Billed as a clash between French 1,000 Guineas winner Zarigana and Owen Burrows’ supplemented Falakeyah, it was the Irish outsider who stole the show to become the race’s longest-priced winner at 33-1.
Falakeyah’s challenge faded tamely having raced keenly, but 6-4 favourite Zarigana looked prime to pounce in hands of Mickael Barzalona and in fact looked to briefly have passed Cercene.
However, Irish 1,000 third Cercene was not to be denied and proved her Curragh performance was no fluke as she battled back to secure a half-length verdict.
Ethical Diamond sparkles for Willie Mullins
Ethical Diamond made it a momentous day for Willie Mullins when powering down the outside to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Mullins and his wife Jackie had taken part in the royal procession before racing and his dual-purpose performer had no trouble in justifying 3-1 favouritism.
Fourth last year, he was 2lb higher having also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham – but the result barely looked in doubt and he came home two lengths clear of Mutaawid and Naqeeb.
Ethical Diamond won the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes
Mullins said: “Last year he just ran too free and things didn’t work out for him, but he still ran a cracker to be fourth so I thought if we get things right this year he had a real live chance and it worked out that way.
“We will give him a little break, bring him home; we will look at York next, a race like the Ebor. We’d love to (go to Australia) if we could get him qualified, that was my first thought coming in.
“I think he would handle a trip to Australia, he wears the hood because he’s a bit keen, but that’d be no problem.
“There’s a big one over hurdles in him too, but for the moment we’ll concentrate on Flat racing.”
He added: “These are just fantastic days, Jackie was just saying to me coming in here today ‘just enjoy it’, and then to have a winner on top that is the cherry on the cake.
“Tuesday was a little disappointing, but we live to fight another day and hopefully Reaching High (unlucky in the Ascot Stakes for the King and Queen) will be back for the same race next year. Ryan had nowhere to go, he was just locked in on the inside and that was that.”
More to follow…
