SANDRACER.COM - 2007 Coronation Cup Entries Confirmed

2007 Coronation Cup Entries Confirmed

Last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Rail Link is just one of the star names among a superb 33-strong entry for the Group One £250,000 Vodafone Coronation Cup, run over 12 furlongs at Epsom Downs on Friday, June 1, the first day of the Vodafone Derby Festival 2007 and Ladies Day.

The son of Dansili, who held off the late challenge of Pride to take the Longchamp showpiece in October, could bid to give France's champion trainer Andre Fabre a remarkable seventh success in the Epsom Group One event, having notched win number six with Shirocco who beat the remarkable mare Ouija Board last year.

Fabre has also entered Linda's Lad, ninth to Sir Percy in last year's Vodafone Derby, and Vison Celebre, successful on his sole start at Longchamp in April last year.

Sir Percy lifted the Vodafone Derby in June in a pulsating finish under Martin Dwyer and could bid for another Epsom Group One, having run well on his comeback when fourth in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba on March 31, one place behind the Mick Channon trained Youmzain.

Brilliant filly Alexandrova, who landed the 2006 Vodafone Oaks at Epsom Downs in sensational style by six lengths from Rising Cross before following up in the Irish and Yorkshire versions, heads five entries for Irish supremo Aidan O'Brien.

She is joined by Yeats, the 2006 Ascot Gold Cup victor who took the Vodafone Coronation Cup in 2005 under a fine tactical ride from Kieren Fallon, Dylan Thomas, who captured the Irish Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes last term and made an impressive return when winning the Listed Alleged Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, 2005 St Leger winner Scorpion and last year's Dante Stakes scorer Septimus.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor sent out Daylami (1999) and Mutafaweq (2001) to land the Vodafone Coronation Cup and he has six entries to choose from this year, including three-time Group One winner Cherry Mix, last year's Vodafone Oaks third Short Skirt, and Tam Lin, who showed progressive form last season when trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

The Freemason Lodge handler, who has landed the Vodafone Coronation Cup four times with Saddler's Hall (1992), Opera House (1993), Singspiel (1997) and Daliapour (2000), could run the tough six-year-old Maraahel, who scored a dramatic victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, and Papal Bull, successful in the King Edward VII Stakes at the same meeting.

The Jeremy Noseda trained Sixties Icon ran very well when seventh in last year's Vodafone Derby and went on to take the St Leger at York, while Clive Brittain, on the mark two years running in the Vodafone Coronation Cup with Warrsan (2003 & 2004), could field the consistent Hattan, Warrsan's half-brother.

Other fascinating entries include Sir Mark Prescott's Confidential Lady, who stormed home in the Group One Prix de Dianne at Chantilly last year, Richard Fahey's improving filly Anna Pavlova, who hacked up in Listed company at Navan on her seasonal reappearance on April 1, and immensely popular stayer Sergeant Cecil, trained by Rod Millman, who hit the Group One jackpot in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in October.

The six Irish entries also include Jim Bolger's Heliostatic, a Group Three winner at Leopardstown in 2006 and third behind Dylan Thomas on Sunday, while Montare, who captured the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp in October for Jonathan Pease, is among the six-strong French entry.

Stephen Wallis, Managing Director at Epsom Downs, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the quality of the entries for the Vodafone Coronation Cup, one of the most prestigious middle-distance races in Europe for older horses.

"Champions of the calibre of Rail Link, Sir Percy and Alexandrova, not forgetting 2005 hero Yeats, really emphasise what a fantastic event the Vodafone Coronation Cup is, and I am looking forward to a tremendous clash at Epsom Downs on June 1, in what promises to be a brilliant start to the Vodafone Derby Festival 2007."