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Royal Ascot 2007

By , About.com Guide

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Indian Ink wins the 2007 Coronation Stakes

Indian Ink winning the Coronation Stakes on the fourth day of the Royal Ascot meet.

Indian Ink winning the Coronation Stakes on the fourth day of the Royal Ascot meet.

© Julian Herbert / Getty Images
The Coronation Stakes (G1) was first run in 1840 to commemorate the crowning of Queen Victoria in 1838, and is the filly counterpart to the St. James's Palace Stakes. A field of 13 three-year-old fillies contested the "old mile" for a purse of £250,000 (about $497,000 US). 8-1 shot Indian Ink was held up early, then was asked for run at the 1/4 pole by jockey Richard Hughes. She responded, taking over the lead with 3/16 to go then drawing away to win by 6 lengths in 1:42.26 over the rain-soaked course rated "good to soft". 3-1 co-favorite Mi Emma also put in a rally but was no match for the winner, finishing a head in front of 7-2 third choice Darjina in third. Finsceal Beo, the other co-favorite, raced mid-pack the whole way but didn't have her usual late closing kick, finishing a disappointing eighth.

Winning trainer Richard Hannon said, "The ground made a big difference to her today. To be honest I thought the rain that came might not make a difference but obviously it has. All her best runs last year came on soft ground and Hughes told me in the paddock beforehand that he thought the ground was right for her. In the Guineas it was all wrong for her."

Trainer Andreas Wohler of runner-up and beaten co-favorite Mi Emma said: "The winner likes soft ground and my horse is speedier on faster ground. She ran a terrific race and I am happy. To be second in a race like this is like winning the race!"

Jim Bolger, trainer of co-favorite and 8th place finisher Finsceal Beo said, "I'd say she just doesn't like it when it's like that. She's not the same filly on it. We'll be more careful about the ground in future and there'll no doubt be other days. She'll have all the entries."

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