Inspiral Faces Tall Task in Coronation

It has been a long time coming, 252 days to be precise, but the wait is finally over as Inspiral  steps onto the track for the June 17 Coronation Stakes (G1), marking the first time since she capped an undefeated juvenile campaign with success in the bet365 Fillies' Mile (G1).

Victory at Newmarket on Oct. 8 last year sent the Cheveley Park homebred soaring to the top of the One Thousand Guineas (G1) market, a place where she remained until April 25 when news broke that she would not be ready to contest the Newmarket classic.

Reported to have been "slow to come to hand" in the spring, Inspiral has started to show more sparkle in her recent work, according to Thady Gosden, although the joint-trainer warned she will improve for her first run of the season.  

"Inspiral has taken time to come to herself, but obviously it's a tough ask for her first start of the year as there are some decent fillies in there," said Gosden

"It can happen to some fillies in the spring hormonally. However, she has come forward recently and did a nice piece of work under Frankie Dettori on the Limekilns last Thursday. She's ready for a race, but will improve from it."

Read into that what you will, but the Gosdens have decided to bolster their hand in the race by saddling Grand Dame, the lightest-raced in the field after just two runs but already successful over course and distance when making a winning debut in April, while she went down by just a head on her only other start last month.

"Grand Dame did very well stepping up to listed class at York last time when she was still a bit inexperienced," said Gosden. "We know she handles the track having won there on her debut. It's a tough ask, but she should give a good account of herself."

The Gosdens are chasing a third win in the race, having been successful with Fallen For You in 2012 and with Cheveley Park's Nannina in 2006.

Whereas Inspiral has had to bide her time, Cachet  has been a busy and successful girl so far this season, following up her comeback win in the Nell Gwyn (G3) with a tenacious victory in the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1), and failing by just a head to add the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-French One Thousand Guineas (G1) to her haul two weeks later.

A bulletproof front-runner who will enjoy the fast ground, it is not hard to argue that on this season's form she and not Inspiral should head the market and George Boughey, a trainer going places fast, believes she is a stronger filly heading into her fourth run of the season.

"(Cachet is) in great shape and physically looks to have stepped forward again," said Boughey. "She's stronger and heavier this time around and has done well for the month between runs.

"She likes to go forward and I'm very happy she stays the mile well. In hindsight, we might have made more use of her in France but we know she stays the mile, so we'll be positive."

Boughey, who is searching for his first Royal Ascot success, added: "Inspiral is a very short price on firm ground for a filly who possibly might want 10 furlongs on slower ground, but if there is any yard who can produce her right, it's the Gosdens."

Mangoustine  renews her rivalry with Cachet having come out on top by a head in a bobbing finish to the French One Thousand Guineas a month ago.

Trained by Mikel Delzangles and beaten just once in five starts, Mangoustine will be making her first start outside of France and will encounter ground with firm in the description for the first time.

Despite those unknowns, veteran rider Gerald Mosse believes she is tailor-made for the demands of Ascot.   

"It's going to be competitive, but it's always good to see the top fillies meet in races like the Coronation Stakes," said Mosse, speaking to Qipco British Champions Series.

"I think Royal Ascot will suit her. English races are normally run at a good pace and I think she'll enjoy the uphill finish and long straight. She has great acceleration."

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Fillies (G1T) heroine Pizza Bianca , conquerer of Cachet that afternoon at Del Mar, and multiple graded stakes winner Spendarella  will wave the flag for the Americans in the Coronation. Bobby Flay's Pizza Bianca, trained by Christophe Clement, captured her sophomore debut in the May 20 Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Meanwhile, Spendarella, a Gainesway runner from the barn of Graham Motion, is currently undefeated in three starts, with her last victory coming in the April 9 Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) at Keeneland.