Precise’s Coronation anoints Ballydoyle’s new queen
Starspangledbanner’s star daughter Precise emulated her sire’s Royal Ascot success, as Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore again prevailed in the Coronation Stakes, while James McDonald secured his second success of the week on the fourth day at Royal Ascot.
Favourite Precise confirmed her status as one of Europe’s leading three‑year‑old fillies with a polished victory in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on day four of Royal Ascot, while James McDonald delivered a standout ride aboard Opportunity in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Precise, a daughter of Starspangledbanner, justified strong market support to defeat Touleen and stablemate True Love in the mile feature.
Slowly into stride, the filly was settled towards midfield before Moore asked her to improve on the outer approaching the straight. She responded decisively, striking the front and holding off a persistent challenge from Touleen to win by a length and a half, with True Love close behind in third.
The success added a fourth Group 1 title to Precise’s record and maintained O’Brien’s strong presence at the meeting.
Earlier, McDonald showcased his international class in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, guiding Opportunity to a well-timed victory for trainer William Haggas.
Positioned in midfield, Opportunity was angled into clear daylight in the home straight, surging past the royal runner Warrant Holder to score by a length and three-quarters, denying the King and Queen a popular success.
“She was brilliant today,” O’Brien said. “It can be a little bit tough around here if you miss the start and you’re a little bit wide, and she was just a bit slowly away and ended up back a little too far.
“The pace wasn’t fast, so Ryan had to go earlier than he wanted and because of that he got there a little bit earlier than he wanted too. He didn’t have a choice, these things happen, and a classy filly can overcome them. When everything goes wrong, a horse like that can still make it work.”
Elsewhere on the card, Venetian Sun landed the Commonwealth Cup for Karl Burke, while O’Brien later secured another Group success with Causeway in the King Edward VII Stakes.
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