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| Sumita Pawar |
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Although Nature Strip had a brilliant win last year, there were no heroics from the Australian contingent of Coolangatta and Cannonball as they finished well back behind local three-year-old Bradsell, despite the controversial finish to the King's Stand at Royal Ascot.
Despite the hot favorite Highfield Princess being run off the track in the concluding stages, the first horse to cross the finish line had to face a protest, which was quickly dismissed by the stewards.
From the beginning of the race, Coolangatta had been racing alongside the leaders on the inside rail side of the course. However, despite James McDonald's urgings, she was unable to maintain her position and ultimately finished in 11th place. On the other hand, Cannonball led a group of three on the grandstand side but was unable to keep up and finished in last place, far from the finish line.
Coolangatta And Cannonball Disappoint
Coolangatta and Cannonball fail to make an impact as Bradsell emerges victorious in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trainer Ciaron Maher said of Coolangatta's performance on Twitter, "She was a bit agitated in the stalls which was uncharacteristic for her, James said she reared up.
"Travelled good but he (James McDonald) said the ground was quite testing and she just came off the bridle a fraction earlier than expected.
"Maybe it was the ground, maybe it was her attitude but she just wasn't there today."
Cannonball was the leader on the stand side but he couldn't go on with it a long way out.
"It was disappointing but he just got upset in the barriers and came out awkward," said jockey Brett Prebble.
"He jumped out in the air and two horses either side of him squashed him and set him alight from the jump.
"He did it all upside down, he's an impressive sprinter that has come here and done it all fairly wrong.
"He was going good 500m out and then 100m later he was going to run last and he actually did. He'll learn from it, he's only a young sprinter but he's better than that, he just got it all wrong."