Precise delivered a commanding 1½-length victory in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday, overcoming a sluggish start to cement her status as the top three-year-old filly in Europe. Ridden by Ryan Moore, the horse surged past the field in the final two furlongs, securing trainer Aidan O’Brien his fourth Coronation Stakes title and a historic 101st career winner at the prestigious Berkshire meeting.
The race did not begin smoothly for the 8/13 betting favourite. Precise broke slowly from the stalls and was forced to race toward the rear of the pack during the early stages. Moore patiently navigated the Starspangledbanner filly to the outside, finding clear running room as they approached the final turn. With a furlong and a half remaining, Moore asked for maximum effort, and Precise responded by taking the lead, hugging the rail forcefully all the way to the finish line.
Behind the winner, a fierce battle unfolded for the runner-up spot. Touleen, a 12/1 underdog ridden by Saffie Osborne, encountered heavy traffic late in the race but rallied brilliantly to steal second place by a neck. That late surge edged out Precise’s stablemate and 5/2 contender True Love, ridden by Wayne Lordan, who had briefly challenged the winner before fading to third.
The dominant performance concludes a turbulent spring campaign for Precise and definitively settles her stable rivalry. After an exceptional two-year-old season that included wins at the Prestige Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes, and bet365 Fillies’ Mile, she suffered a disappointing seventh-place finish in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month—a race won by True Love. Precise bounced back three weeks later to capture the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh, and Friday’s victory advances her to a 2-1 record over True Love in Classics and Group 1 matchups this season.