by Myra Lewyn
Lush Lashes seized the lead one furlong out and stormed to a convincing victory under Kevin Manning in the $493,075 Coronation Stakes (Eng-G1) on Friday at Royal Ascot.
Cut back to one mile in the Coronation Stakes after a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the 1 1/2-mile Juddmonte Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) on June 6, the Galileo (Ire) filly won by 3 1/4 lengths from Group 3 winner Infallible and covered the distance in 1:39.23 on good to firm turf.
The victory gave Manning and trainer Jim Bolger a group stakes double on Friday following Cuis Ghaire’s three-quarter-length triumph in the $138,061 Albany Stakes (Eng-G3).
Lush Lashes was prominent from the outset as Frankie Dettori dictated the pace with Nahoodh. Manning advanced to challenge for command near the furlong marker, and Infallible launched a resolute bid under Jimmy Fortune. Lush Lashes easily outstayed that foe, drawing clear in the final 100 yards and winning by open lengths.
Carribean Sunset, who tracked the early leaders, finished well for third-place, three-quarters of a length back and a half-length in front of 9-to-4 favorite Spacious.
“I was very impressed with her, but I didn’t think she could win in that style,” Bolger told England’s Press Association. “I was a little concerned about her getting the mile and a half at Epsom, but to be fair, it was more that she didn’t handle the track there.
“Next time it will probably be a mile and a half,” he added. "There’s the [Darley] Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) at the Curragh [on July 13]."
Lush Lashes won the Goffs (Fillies) Million as a two-year-old and romped by five lengths in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Eng-G3) before the Oaks.
Bolger’s 8-to-11 favorite Cuis Ghaire is unbeaten in three career starts after capturing the Albany, the day’s first race, by 1 3/4 lengths from Penny’s Gift.
Manning settled the precocious Galileo filly, who was eager to race, just off the early leaders. She hit her best stride inside the final furlong and easily repelled Penny’s Gift for the victory while completing six furlongs in 1:15.72.
Cuis Ghaire won the Cathal Ryan Memorial Swordlestown Stud Takes (Ire-G3) on June 2 in her previous start.
Godolphin enjoyed their first win at Royal Ascot this year as Campanologist took the lead and never relinquished it in the $394,460 King Edward VII Stakes (Eng-G2).
The Kentucky-bred Kingmambo colt won by three-quarters of a length from Conduit, the 11-to-4 favorite, who was seeking his first stakes victory.
Winner of the Tuddenham Mill Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April, Campanologist scored comfortably under Frankie Dettori in his first start at 1½ miles, holding back Conduit who came through to challenge inside the final furlong. He covered the distance in 2:31.24.
The win gave Godolphin its 100th Grade 2 or Group 2 victory, and Dettori his 200th graded/group win for Godolphin.
Ballymacoll Stud’s homebred Patkai cemented his status as a leading Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-G1) contender with a seven-length triumph in the $118,338 Queen’s Vase Stakes (Eng-G3).
Once settled in midpack under Ryan Moore, the Indian Ridge colt rallied into contention on the home turn, shook clear, and powered away for his first stakes win.
Patkai, the 6-to-4 favorite in the 12-horse field, covered the two-mile trip in 3:27.86.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor