Ervedya and Christophe Soumillon strike to beat Found and Ryan Moore

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ervedya steals the show late on in Coronation

Report: Royal Ascot, Friday

Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 1m, 3yo fillies

ERVEDYA got to the front in the nick of time when cutting down favourite Found, as the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained filly followed up her French Guineas win in a thrilling finish.

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Ryan Moore was, as ever, in the correct position on Found, and appeared to be heading to a record-breaking ninth Royal Ascot winner of the week, but Christophe Soumillon produced his mount perfectly to get the verdict by a neck.

In the colours of the Aga Khan, Soumillon was happy to sit off the pace, with connections confident she had the speed to make an impact providing the early gallop was not too strenuous.

Once Moore had played his hand and hit the front, Soumillon managed to get himself in a position to challenge on the outside, with Lucida on his outer, and the winning jockey said: “I was lucky to find a gap in the middle. I knew she maybe didn’t handle the [course] so I didn’t want to make a run on the outside and I knew that Aidan O’Brien’s filly would be on top of her form as she was last year in Longchamp.

“When I saw [Found] in a good position I knew it was better to stay behind her and I think it’s maybe why I won. I think if I had come on the outside I don’t know if she would have quickened the way she did and stayed on. We didn’t know if she would handle the track here but she did. She shows she can go on any ground, at any trip, on a straight track or a bend. She’s perfect.”

Found and Lucida lost little in defeat, and O’Brien said of the runner-up: “She’s run a great race and did everything right, I’m delighted really. I’d say she’ll keep progressing as the plan was to have the three runs then have a little rest and then maybe step up in trip.”

Lucida had the widest stall in nine, which possibly contributed to her final position, as she was in last under Kevin Manning, who had little option rather than being stuck on the outside throughout.

John Ferguson, representing Godolphin, said: “She was beaten only half a length or so in the Coronation and she’ s a very very good filly. She was coming at them at the end and you’ve got to be delighted with her run. I would say that this is her trp.”

Muhaarar (black cap) leaves his rivals standing at Ascot

 PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)

Muhaarar charges to Commonwealth victory

 Report: Royal Ascot, Friday

Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) 6f 3yo colts, geldings and fillies

AMONG all the hype before this, Muhaarar’s name was rarely mentioned, but it was all about him after the race with a dominant display under jockey Dane O’Neill.

Trained by Charlie Hills, Muhaarar travelled powerfully and shot clear with two furlongs to run and settled the contest as Limato ran on from the rear to take second with Anthem Alexander third.

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Would it be Hootenanny? Or Tiggy Wiggy? Or little Limatothat would take the inaugural running of this race was the focus of pre-race talk with not much attention paid to Greenham Stakes winner Muhaarar.

It was France’s Goken that set the early fractions with Home Of The Brave and Cyclogenisis for company, while Tiggy Wiggy and favourite Hootenanny were part of the second wave of runners behind the pace.

Limato, who had been slow to break, made up ground rapidly approaching the final furlong and powered through to lead on the near side under James Doyle with trainer Henry Candy no doubt dreaming of a first Royal Ascot winner in 36 years.

However, on the far side of the course Muhaarar was picking up in the style of a smart sprinter and he left his rivals for dead, taking the spoils by three and three quarter lengths from Limato.

Hills had spoken of his excitment about this race and about Muhaarar in his Racing Post Weekender column and his positive feelings were spot on with Muhaarar, who won the Greenham Stakes in April before finishing down the field in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains last month.

Hills, paying tribute to the winning owner and breeder Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “Sheikh Hamdan made the decision [to run here]. This horse is improving and he’s very versatile. He’s got better with racing.

“This is a Group 1 and it looked a proper race as well – any one of eight or ten could have won. But he did it in such great style and he’s not really ground dependent either; he’s a very nice horse. We will have a look at all the nice races now. He has got the world at his feet.”

The ease of the victory shocking jockey Dane O’Neill, who took the ride with Sheikh Hamdan’s retained rider Paul Hanagan opting to ride Adaay instead.

“It was all very easy and a bit surreal,” O’Neill said. “He didn’t half pick up. He’s never done an awful lot wrong, he won the Gimcrack and Greenham and it’s nice to get one for the boss [Hamdan Al Maktoum].”

Limato’s trainer Henry Candy had to settle for second but was pleased with the performance his runner put in.

He said: “I thought he ran a wonderful race. I couldn’t see what happened at the start, James [Doyle] said he was a bit slow away. I don’t think we’d have beaten the winner. I think the engine is still the same which is all that matters.”

Tags: Muhaarar   |  Anthem Alexander   |  Limato   |  Charles Hills   |  Dane O’Neill   |  Royal Ascot  

ASCOT RESULTS friday 19th june 2015

GOING: GOOD TO FIRM; Going Stick – Stands’ Side 8.8; Centre 8.5; Far Side 8.5; Round 7.8. Weather conditions: Sunny. 

STALLS: Straight – Centre; Round – Inside