Royal Ascot: Oisin Murphy gains compensation with Coronation Stakes win after disqualification on Dragon Symbol
Oisin Murphy was a Group One winner again – less than half an hour after being denied in the stewards’ room – when Alcohol Free posted an emphatic Coronation Stakes success.
Dual champion jockey Murphy was first past the post on Dragon Symbol in the preceding Commonwealth Cup, only to be demoted to second behind Campanelle after the first two came very close in a tight finish.
Alcohol Free left nothing to chance, though, as she surged clear in a race run in yet more driving rain on a day of deluges at Royal Ascot.
- Campanelle awarded Commonwealth Cup in stewards’ room
- Alenquer classy in King Edward
At the line, the 11-2 winner and Murphy still had a length and a half to spare from Snow Lantern – who stayed on late – completing a double on the card for trainer Andrew Balding.
Murphy said: “It’s brilliant for Andrew Balding and Park House Stables. Three Royal Ascot winners for them (this week) – I’m over the moon for them.
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“Andrew is very good to me, he never ties me down with instructions and I would have been happy to lead today, my only thought process was do not touch her mouth and I felt if she relaxed, she would win and thankfully she had a good trip and the horse was fantastic.
“She was very well bought by David Bowe, Mr (Jeff) Smith’s racing manager, she was cheap and now she’s very valuable!”
Balding – who struck in the opening Albany Stakes with Sandrine – said: “She’s very good. We had heavy hearts after Newmarket because there are not many times you head to a Classic expecting to win, but for whatever reason it didn’t pan out that day and she was below par. But she was back to her best today.
“Today was the first time she’s ever had cover. It has just been through bad fortune rather than design, but the slightly awkward draw turned into a really good draw when they went under the trees as it meant she got some cover. She’s very classy.
“She won a Group One last year as well so there’s never been any doubt about her ability.
“This week is the reason we do it. We had such high expectations and had plenty to run. We should be having one winner with the horses we had, two would be fantastic but three is cloud nine.
“She’s in the July Cup, the Sussex Stakes and the Falmouth so all sorts of options, we’ll have a think next week.”
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