The Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot features a high-stakes rubber match today at 4:20 PM. Aidan O’Brien’s Classic-winning fillies Precise and True Love face off for the third time this season.
The fillies split their first two meetings in unexpected fashion. True Love upset the field at 5-1 in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, while the 9-5 favorite Precise suffered an interrupted run. Precise exacted her revenge weeks later in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. She pulled away for a two-and-a-half-length victory over True Love.
Jockey Ryan Moore is under intense scrutiny after picking the wrong filly in both previous meetings. For today’s decisive race, Moore chose to ride Precise. O’Brien originally aimed Precise at the Oaks at Epsom before heavy rain forced a scratch and a reroute to today’s one-mile distance.
O’Brien is aiming to break a rare cold streak ahead of the 4:20 PM post time, as he is seeking his first Coronation Stakes victory since Winter took the prize in 2017. Standing in the Ballydoyle duo’s way is a 10-filly field. Competitors include Donnacha O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup winner Balantina, Ed Walker’s The Prettiest Star, and Owen Burrows’ Touleen. Burrows expects a much stronger showing from Touleen today. He stated the filly’s sixth-place Newmarket finish was compromised by a poor draw and track undulations that will not affect her at Ascot.