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| Staff Writer |
The fillies' mile championship has been bolstered by the supplementation of Falakeyah, who joins French 1000 Guineas winner Zarigana in a fascinating 11-runner field.
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Owen Burrows' Falakeyah was originally targeted at the Prix de Diane but connections opted to supplement her following her impressive Pretty Polly Stakes victory at Newmarket. The Shadwell-owned filly represents excellent staying bloodlines but Crowley believes she has the pace for this assignment.
Angus Gold, racing manager for Shadwell, said: "Jim [Crowley] has been saying all spring 'this filly has plenty of speed' and she showed that when she won at Newmarket on her first start of the year.
"Once we had decided not to stretch her stamina to a mile and a half in the Oaks, the next option was the Prix de Diane. However, she did not scope clean two weeks ago, so Owen and the team gave her time and sorted it out, but the net result was the timescale proved too tight to get her back to peak fitness for the Diane, especially with the travelling over to France.
"Owen feels she is now back to where she was before the dirty scope. He's very happy with her and together we feel the Coronation is the right race for her. Jim believes she has the pace to be competitive at a mile at that level. She's definitely got a lot of class, and we are looking forward to Friday."
Francis Graffard's Zarigana won the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards' room after the demotion of Shes Perfect to second and will clash again with fourth-placed Exactly, one of two for O'Brien along with January.
Ollie Sangster fields both Flight and Simmering, second and third respectively in the 1000 Guineas. Both disappointed in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.
Sangster said: "I feel they realistically do have chances. If you were to take out their Irish runs, which didn't suit either of them, then they'd probably be half the price that they are. We're happy to put a line through those runs and we're looking forward to Friday.
"The race didn't go to plan for either of them. Simmering was drawn wide and raced without any cover, which is quite important for her, and the fractions didn't suit Flight. It was a very slowly run race and she's a big filly."
Both fillies have worked well since their recent outing and their trainer is excited to take on top-class rivals.
Sangster said: "We're happy with how they've both been training since the Curragh and hopefully they can bounce back to the form they showed at Newmarket.
"It's looking like an interesting race now with Falakeyah and Zarigana in there, but we're hopeful they can be in the shake-up."
Ralph Beckett saddles Cathedral for AMO Racing, whilst Kon Tiki (supplemented) represents another live contender. Archie Watson's Duty First and Chantilly Lace complete the field.