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| Investec Coronation Cup - 1st June 2013 |
Epsom
Derby
St Nicholas Abbey Chasing Coronation Hat-Trick St Nicholas Abbey is set to try and create history by becoming the first horse to win the Investec Coronation Cup three times.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained six-year-old heads the 12 entries remaining after the May 14 scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today, in the 2013 renewal of the Group One contest, which takes place over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Investec Derby Day, Saturday, June 1. St Nicholas Abbey beat the high-class mare Midday by a length in 2011 and was imperious last year when he came home four and a half lengths in front of Red Cadeaux. The Montjeu horse made the perfect start to 2013 in gaining his fifth Group One success on March 30 when beating Japanese star Gentildonna by two and a quarter lengths in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan. He is an even-money chance with Coral, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, to gain a third Investec Coronation Cup victory. O’Brien, who has won the Investec Coronation Cup six times in the last eight years, could also be represented by Chamonix, El Salvador, Ernest Hemingway and Imperial Monarch. Group Two winner Dandino joined the Newmarket yard of Marco Botti at the start of this season and shaped encouragingly for his new handler when runner-up in the Group Two QIPCO Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on May 4. The six-year-old is no stranger to Epsom Downs, having won a 10-furlong handicap on Investec Derby Day in 2010 and finished fourth in the 2011 Investec Coronation Cup. Botti said: “We are considering the Investec Coronation Cup for Dandino. The owners have told me to leave him in the race and we will just monitor the ground because he is a fast ground horse. “The long term plan is the Melbourne Cup and, although it would be good to win the Investec Coronation Cup, we have to be mindful of his handicap mark for Australia. “If the race cut up and the ground is fine we might just have a look because the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, which is also an option, can be just a tough as a Group One now it has no penalties.” Main Sequence beat all bar the impressive Camelot in the 2012 Investec Derby and may try to go one better over the course and distance. He was third on his reappearance at Ascot on May 11, in the Listed Buckhounds Stakes.
Ed Dunlop is targeting the Investec Coronation Cup with Joshua Tree after his comeback effort in the Yorkshire Cup last Friday. Stepped up to a mile and six furlongs, Joshua Tree was making his first start for Dunlop in finishing eighth. Dunlop said: "He got very tired on the ground at York and blew for a very long time afterwards. He's come out of it well and we will look to the Coronation Cup, as long as everything is well with the horse." Chapter Seven (Stuart Williams) and Sir Graham Wade (Mark Johnston) complete the possible line-up for the Investec Coronation Cup, which has a record £350,000 in prize money this year.
Investec Coronation Cup (Group 1)
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