Damson should take Coronation crown

Published on Thursday 16 June 2005 12:32

DAMSON can star at Royal Ascot tomorrow when the Irish-trained filly looks set to take the Group One Coronation Stakes (3.45pm).

She was a top class juvenile, winning her first four races last year when those victories included the Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal meeting and the Group One Phoenix Stakes back home in Ireland.

She finished a close third in the Cheveley Park Stakes on her final outing last term and was strongly-fancied for classic glory until a training setback scuppered hopes of Guineas glory at Newmarket.

She recovered enough for trainer David Wachman to risk her in the Irish Guineas though could only dead heat for ninth place - but was a bare two lengths behind the winner. Her training regime has been plain sailing since then and Wachman is confident that she will show her real ability tomorrow.

It’s a tough test as the line-up includes Newmarket Guineas winner Virginia Waters who has since finished fourth in the Epsom Oaks.

There are several others in the line-up who have run well in the fillies’ classics this year but the fact that Kieren Fallon, pictured right, has elected to partner Damson in preference to Virginia Waters is a pip in itself.

Mountain High was a late withdrawal from the Epsom Derby but can land a major prize in the King Edward VII Stakes (3.05pm).

Sir Michael Stoute’s colt did not race last year and was a promising third on his debut at Newmarket in April before romping home by five lengths in easy ground at Chester.

He is closely related to a whole host of top class performers while his dam won the Yorkshire Oaks on this track before finishing second in the St Leger and he seems to have inherited much of her ability.

His main rival is likely to be The Geezer who won in good style at Newbury and Haydock before finishing second to Motivator in the Dante Stakes on this track last month.

The Geezer subsequently disappointed when only eighth behind that same horse in the Epsom Derby but connections blamed the switchback Epsom circuit and he will be much more at home back on the Knavesmire tomorrow.

Shalapour was also a defector from the Epsom Classic and he can give the Irish another victory in the Queen Vase (4.55pm) when he should be suited by this longer trip.

The three-year-old was runner-up on his debut before winning in heavy ground at Naas and then showed he could cope with a firm surface by scoring over a mile and a half on his latest outing.

This is the stiffest test he has faced to date but he looks like a real stayer in the making.

Spinning Queen impressed me when making a successful debut at Haydock recently and will have benefited from that exercise and experience.

A 40,000 guineas buy, she is a half-sister to two winners and is highly regarded by Barry Hills, who can saddle the youngster to win the opening Albany Stakes (2.30pm).

Royal Ascot Selections: 2.30 Spinning Queen; 3.05 Mountain High; 3.45 Damson; 4.55 Shalapour.