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Star Performer of the Weekend
It was an Epsom Derby meeting to remember for the Irish as they claimed all three Group 1 contests in style, as Luxembourg, Ezeliya and City Of Troy all took the spoils in the Coronation Cup, the Oaks and the Derby for respective trainers Aidan O'Brien and Dermot Weld.
The question is, who was your Star Performer of the Weekend and why?
In the weekend's first Group 1 contest, the Coronation Cup, Luxembourg got things off to a flyer as he claimed his first victory in over a year for Aidan O'Brien. The five-year-old made all of the running and eventually went clear inside the final two furlongs to hold off a late rallying Hamish to win by a length. Luxembourg currently holds two entries at Royal Ascot, in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes where he's moved into 10/1 from 25/1, and in the Hardwicke Stakes. He's also been nudged into 8/1 from 10/1 for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July as a result of his performance this weekend.
In the first of the two Classics, Dermot Weld claimed his first Oaks victory with Ezeliya. Chris Hayes held the filly up in the rear of the field before picking off runners one-by-one in the last half a mile before striding clear with the eventual second place finisher, Dance Sequence. Ezeliya stayed on stronger than Godolphin's charge in the final furlong and went on to win by a going away three lengths. Ezeliya's next port of call looks to be the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot later this month, before taking aim at the Irish Oaks in July. Aidan O'Brien's favourite, Ylang Ylang, disappointed back in sixth place, and has drifted out to 16/1 from 10/1 for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
On Saturday, Coral Racing Club alumni, John and Sean Quinn, claimed the first Group 3 of the day with Breege in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes. The four-year-old held on gamely towards the end having led from the two furlong marker, just beating managing to hold off Chic Columbine to win by a neck. The Quinn's will take aim at Royal Ascot's Duke Of Cambridge Stakes with Breege next, as they look to claim their second Group victory with their filly.
Following that, it was a renaissance for Paul and Oliver Cole's talented four-year-old Royal Scotsman, as he won the Diomed Stakes by a clear two lengths. In what was a rare front-running ride from Jamie Spencer, the colt hit the front of the field immediately after coming out of the stalls and never looked back, winning in fantastic style. It looks as though the Coles will target a Group 1 contest with Royal Scotsman next, as he holds entries in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot (14/1 from 66/1), as well as the July Cup at Newmarket and the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Aidan O'Brien claimed his second Group 1 of the weekend in the meeting's showpiece race, The Derby, with his enigmatic stable star, City Of Troy. Ryan Moore held him up in the rear of the field before making headway around half a mile from home. He then streaked clear in the closing stages, leaving second favourite Ambiente Friendly trailing behind. The three-year-old holds an entry in the Coral-Eclipse, where he's moved into 6/1 from 16/1.
Click TELL US HERE to let us know who your Star Performer of the Weekend was and why.
The question is, who was your Star Performer of the Weekend and why?
In the weekend's first Group 1 contest, the Coronation Cup, Luxembourg got things off to a flyer as he claimed his first victory in over a year for Aidan O'Brien. The five-year-old made all of the running and eventually went clear inside the final two furlongs to hold off a late rallying Hamish to win by a length. Luxembourg currently holds two entries at Royal Ascot, in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes where he's moved into 10/1 from 25/1, and in the Hardwicke Stakes. He's also been nudged into 8/1 from 10/1 for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July as a result of his performance this weekend.
In the first of the two Classics, Dermot Weld claimed his first Oaks victory with Ezeliya. Chris Hayes held the filly up in the rear of the field before picking off runners one-by-one in the last half a mile before striding clear with the eventual second place finisher, Dance Sequence. Ezeliya stayed on stronger than Godolphin's charge in the final furlong and went on to win by a going away three lengths. Ezeliya's next port of call looks to be the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot later this month, before taking aim at the Irish Oaks in July. Aidan O'Brien's favourite, Ylang Ylang, disappointed back in sixth place, and has drifted out to 16/1 from 10/1 for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
On Saturday, Coral Racing Club alumni, John and Sean Quinn, claimed the first Group 3 of the day with Breege in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes. The four-year-old held on gamely towards the end having led from the two furlong marker, just beating managing to hold off Chic Columbine to win by a neck. The Quinn's will take aim at Royal Ascot's Duke Of Cambridge Stakes with Breege next, as they look to claim their second Group victory with their filly.
Following that, it was a renaissance for Paul and Oliver Cole's talented four-year-old Royal Scotsman, as he won the Diomed Stakes by a clear two lengths. In what was a rare front-running ride from Jamie Spencer, the colt hit the front of the field immediately after coming out of the stalls and never looked back, winning in fantastic style. It looks as though the Coles will target a Group 1 contest with Royal Scotsman next, as he holds entries in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot (14/1 from 66/1), as well as the July Cup at Newmarket and the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Aidan O'Brien claimed his second Group 1 of the weekend in the meeting's showpiece race, The Derby, with his enigmatic stable star, City Of Troy. Ryan Moore held him up in the rear of the field before making headway around half a mile from home. He then streaked clear in the closing stages, leaving second favourite Ambiente Friendly trailing behind. The three-year-old holds an entry in the Coral-Eclipse, where he's moved into 6/1 from 16/1.
Click TELL US HERE to let us know who your Star Performer of the Weekend was and why.
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