A Legitimate Ask for deserved success

Investec Coronation Cup 1m 4f Gr I 4yo +

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By ARSENE ABITBOL - 3 JUIN 2009 - 21.21pm

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No concerns whatsoever as to Look here’s ability to handle the tricky profile of track since she’s a course and distance winner in last year’s Oaks. In the St Leger at Doncaster, she finished behind Conduit and unsung heroin, the former is an excellent horse - Breeder's Cup Turf - and the latter is a solid performer. By looking at her performance she was able to challenge Conduit around the12th-13th furlong, which means that Friday's trip of 1m4f will be optimum.Whether she'll be fit and ready to unleash remains to be answered, but on the form she has shown she is entitled to win.

Eastern Anthem for the Maktoum family hasn't seen anyone going past him on his four-year-old campaign. He boasts a perfect record whose form provides a solid basis. He disposed of Spanish Moon, Purple moon, Quijano and Youmzain at Nad el Sheba. That was quite a race and Saeed Bin Suroor's charge has been blossoming this year. Rated 120 he also has every right to play a huge role in this Coronation Cup.

Youmzain : Last year's runner-up in this event bids to gain an overdue success at this level and this time the dual Arc runner-up won’t have to deal with Soldier of Fortune and MacArthur. This year's renewal is probably off a lesser standard and that will play to his strength. In 2008, he campaigned against much stronger horses and his unlucky comeback at Nad el Sheba also proved that he's still in good nick. Richard Hills is to ride him yet to victory but Mick Channon's protege is a logical favourite.

Ask : From Sir Michael Stoute's yard who's unrivalled in bringing the best out of older horses, he put everything in trouble in the Gr II Yorkshire Cup a fortnight ago and at six year-old he is still very lightly raced - 15 runs - is proven at Group I level and last year's 6th in Zarkava's Arc situates his ability. He can be very close provided he adapts to Epsom.

Frozen Fire is a top class thoroughbred on his day, but he ran an awful race at Chester last time out. His form was head and shoulders above but he failed to deliver. Whether John Murtagh should have taken the lead remains debatable as he’s such a tricky ride. Whether he was not good enough remains debatabe too. The son of Montjeu needs a race run at fast pace and he will surely find these conditions on Friday. The big question mark is on the grounds of his Irish Derby win he is a leading contender, on the basis of his Chester outing he doesn’t stand much of a chance. He is the dark horse, let’s just hope that he will show his true colours.

Bucellati captured the Gr II Ormonde Stakes in good style, the form of which has been franked since runner-up Scintillo came out the strongest in Sunday's Gr II Grand Prix de Chantilly over in France. He also cleared from Frozen Fire but again the relevance of the Ormonde Stakes form is very doubtful. Even though he is coming here with the profile of a late improver he's still up against it with this type of company. Being in the shake-up would be legitimate though.

This line-up looks a bit too classy for Expresso star, if he completes the winning quartet, there will be no disgrace.

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Selection : Ask

Ousider : Eastern Anthem

Biggest Threat : Youmzain

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Sources : http://www.racingpost.com