Dermot Weld’s disappointment when Tahiyra was beaten in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket was palpable. He mentioned several possible reasons for the defeat but you felt that he’d very much expected her to win.
Since then his faith has been entirely vindicated and at Ascot today the filly showed she is at the very top of her division, winning the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes in some style to back up her recent win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas where she’d atoned for that Newmarket blip.
Her main opposition appeared to be Meditate, the Aidan O’Brien trained filly who had only finished a length and half behind Tahiyra at the Curragh and looked to be progressing after a poor run at Newmarket. But, despite leading them around the home turn, Meditate’s effort was to fade quickly int the straight as Tahiyra travelled smoothly into it on the outside.
She didn’t have things all her own way though. Remarquee and Sounds Of Heaven, both running at big prices, were battling and as they came towards home Remarquee looked to be squeezed up by both the winner and the eventual third.
Tahiyra held the aces and her class told as she drew clear to win cosily enough in the end by a length. She had to survive a lengthy steward’s enquiry as the judges looked at the interference to Remarquee and they even kept the King, who was presenting the prizes, waiting as they deliberated long and hard. It was clear to most that the best filly had won and the result was allowed to stand, much to the relief of the short-priced favourite backers and, I am sure, to Dermot weld.
Weld was keen to stress that the filly would now have some time to recover and would be brought back for an Autumn campaign, with a step up in trip a possibility. “I think the plan always was to give a nice holiday,” he said. “She’s had a very busy spring and early summer. We’ll give her a nice break and look at a programme in the autumn.”
In the day’s other Group 1 race, the Commonwealth Cup, Shaquille managed to overcome a poor start to see off the hot favourite Little Big Bear and provide trainer Julie Camacho and her partner Steve Brown with their first Royal Ascot and first Group 1 success.
