Sheikh Mohammed’s Coroebus bags big prize at Royal Ascot
Sheikh Hamdan receives the trophy from Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at the Royal Ascot.
Coroebus — owned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Godolphin Operation — picked up the other Group One contest, the St James's Palace Stakes.
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, received the trophy after the race.
Baaeed mantained his unbeaten run with a stylish victory in the Queen Anne Stakes in the opening race of the Royal Ascot meeting on Tuesday.
The William Haggas-trained colt’s record now stands at eight victories from as many starts, having also taken competitive renewals of the Prix du Moulin and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last year and the Lockinge Stakes on his seasonal reappearance in 2022.
Baaeed is a Sea The Stars full-brother to recent Coronation Cup hero Hukum out of Aghareed, a Listed-winning daughter of Kingmambo and Shadwell’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Lahudood.
In turn, Lahudood is descended from the late Sheikh Hamdan’s wonderful blue hen mare Height Of Fashion, whose offspring included the champions Nashwan and Nayef.
Shadwell’s outstanding day continued when Bradsell, a son of Nunnery Stud first-season sire Tasleet, won the very next race on the card, the prestigious Coventry Stakes, in decisive fashion.
Coroebus joined a select group of colts to win both the G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 St James’s Palace Stakes with a tenacious victory in the mile showpiece.
The Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old, who had shown a potent turn of foot when beating Native Trail in the Newmarket Classic, found plenty of cover on the inside rail as he raced freely behind Lusail, My Prospero and Aikhal.
Coroebus continued to track the leaders into the straight but William Buick was forced to wait for a gap to appear passing the two-furlong marker.
A seam on the inside rail presented itself soon after as Aikhal faded and Lusail edged out, with Coroebus quickening strongly to grab the lead approaching the final furlong.
The Godolphin homebred bravely found more in front, seeing off a host of challenges in the closing strides for a head verdict over Lusail. My Prospero took third, a further short-head in arrears, with less than a length separating the first five home.
Appleby said: “It was a tough and gritty performance from Coroebus. We knew coming into today that it will be a different style of race. Full credit to the rest of the field, they deserve to be here and I just wish the pace had been stronger. William just said Coroebus was taking him on the whole way round. Thankfully, the turn allowed him to have a breather.”
