It looks all go for English Vs Irish 1000 Guineas winners Cachet and Homeless Songs in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday, June 17. George Boughey stunned Classic watchers by following a win in the Nell Gwyn Stakes with victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in earlier this month. Dermot Weld's Homeless Songs meanwhile, hosed up at the Curragh in the Irish version to put five and half lengths between herself and Aidan O'Brien's Tuesday in second.
Irish trainer Jack Davison is hoping his Mooneista can eclipse her rivals in the the King's Stand at Royal Ascot after placing second in the Greenlands Stakes on Saturday at the Curragh. The Dandy Man filly has come into her own in the New Year, finishing second at Cork before a third in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes at Naas in April. The Greenlands Stakes second saw the sprinter take on six furlongs and she could have won if not for being carried right in the final furlong.
The fact that James Horton is sending horses to Royal Ascot in his first season as a trainer is testament to how quickly his star is rising. Of course, formerly being assistant to Sir Michael Stoute didn't go amiss and now Horton is training for John and Jess Dance's Middleham operation that has its eyes on some top prizes. Horton has sent out seven winners since leaving Newmarket at a strike rate of 28%.