Coronation Cup

2.45 Epsom
Investec Coronation Cup (Group 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £127,732

Pick: Fame And Glory (win), Jukebox Jury (e/w)

Bashikrov: Win off 95 last time is seemingly peak of his powers and form isn’t good enough to win this.

Calvaryman: Enjoyed a progressive 2009, winning three times (including the Prix Niel and Grand Prix De Paris) before coming third in the Arc; Yet to reach same heights for new stable (Saeed Bin Suroor) but he comes here as a major player.

Dixie Music: Lightly raced sort who has performed admirably despite being used as pacemaker on his last 3 starts; Looks set for same role here.

Fame And Glory: Continuing where he left off at end of his 3 year old season (ran very well against Sea The Stars in last year’s Derby and Irish Champion Stakes, denied a clear run in Arc and over the top when sixth in Champion Stakes) with seamless wins over 10f in the Moorsbridge and Tattersalls Gold Cup; Although this is tougher test than both it’s hard to argue that he will not be up to the task.

Jukebox Jury: Made giant strides last season when winning the Grand Prix De Deauville and the Preis Von Europa, before finishing a very close second in the Canadian International; Improved a lot from below par run in Dubai when landing Jockey Club Stakes cosily and is likely type for a race like this.

South Easter: Made giant strides last year, getting beat by high class sort on debut before winning Dee Stakes and getting injury when sixth in King Edwards Stakes; Won in easy style on AW in Magnolia Stakes but possibly a little disappointing when third behind Debussy and Lez Fazzani last time and will need to improve.

Youmzain: Beaten only a nose in this last year and held his form well thought last season w, coming second in the Arc again(ignore his run in Hong Kong as he was snatched up around the turn); However ran worse than usual when behind Cavalryman (and infront of Jukebox Jury) and has something to prove despite more positive reports from home.

Clowance: Only had 6 runs but has run well in Group 1 company on three of those occasions, coming fourth in a strong oaks, coming second in the Irish St Ledger and also fourth in the Prix Royal Oak, shaping like a possible top quality stayer in the making; Ran very poorly on seasonal reappearance and might not be suited by this race, which is a very hard renewal to win anyway.

High Heeled: Would be a major player on the pick of her efforts, and it must be remembered that she was fourth in the Oaks here last year, a good fifth in the Nassau Stakes, and good third in the Pride Stakes and a wide margin winner of the St Simon Stakes; A game filly who is not to be underestimated.

Sariska: Was the stand out filly of last year with impressive Musidora /Oaks double before completing an Oaks double with consummate ease when landing the Irish Oaks; Beaten in Yorkshire Oaks by top class Dar Re Mi before staying on third in Champion Stakes; Reappeared with great win in Middleton Stakes which will have her spot on for this; More rain the better.

VERDICT: A pretty high class and generally well contested renewal. You can all expect Youmzain, Calvaryman, and even Clowance to be better than they have showed previously but I think that this might be between the 2 horses who ran so well in last year’s Classics held here, in FAME AND GLORY and Sariska. Fame And Glory had a fruitful season last year and looked better than ever when landing the Tattersalls Gold Cup by a wide margin last time, 12f will do him no harm although this is a better race. I have no doubt that Sariska will win Group 1’s this season and she is the main threat here. There are plenty of options for an e/w bet here too. Cavalryman’s Arc third would make him a shoe in for the frame but since switching to Godolphin he hasn’t shown that and his Sheema Classic effort was a little disappointing considering he was fit and his stable seem to be under a cloud. Youmzain appeals a lot at 8/1 but his comeback run was poorer than usual and you are chancing that he bounces back, although positive stable reports give a lot of hope. JUKEBOX JURY was progressing into a top horse last year and can go very well here.