Australia’s Cercene Captures Coronation Stakes

Cercene (3f Australia – Tschierschen, by Acclamation) produced an ultra-game performance to win Friday’s Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A useful two-year-old, the Joe Murphy-trained filly had progressed with every run this season, most recently taking third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Partnered by regular rider Gary Carroll at Ascot, she tracked the leaders and travelled well turning for home. Pushed along to lead after the two-furlong marker, she was headed inside the final furlong by French Guineas heroine Zarigana but refused to be denied, battling back to lead by half a length on the line.

Cercene became a first top-flight winner for her Tipperary trainer, who reflected: “It's a lifetime's ambition to have a Group 1 winner. Cercene is by Australia, a sire I love, and her half-brother won the Britannia so the pedigree was there.

“She travelled well, Gary gave her a great ride, and we were thinking that being by Australia she'd stay as well. She was headed and came back again. She waited for something to head her but she's very tough and a dream to train.”

It also marked a deserved first Group 1 win for Gary Carroll, who reported: “Last time at the Curragh I didn't think we got rolling early enough, but today was a stronger pace and I got a lovely, smooth run the whole way. When I hit the front she waited a little bit and I got headed, but she's got a huge heart, battled back and stuck her head out for me.

“A Group 1 is something I've been striving to achieve all my life. I started riding in 2007 and have hit the crossbar plenty of times, but to finally win one is a marvellous feeling.”

Owned by Shane Stafford and bred by China Horse Club, Cercene is bred on the same cross as Group 1 victor Broome (Australia) and multiple Group scorer Point Lonsdale (Australia). She becomes Australia’s second Group 1 winner this season following Lambourn’s impressive Epsom Derby success.