Reggane

The French filly Reggane was last in the early stages of the Coronation Stakes. It wasn’t that she couldn’t go the early gallop, she was just slowly away and Gerald Mosse seemed intent on settling her at the back in the early stages. Still last of the 10 runners and on the inside rail, but still on the bridle, turning for home, Mosse stuck to the far rail and got a nice run up there before he pulled her out to go around Heart Shaped a furlong and a half out, and she ran home strongly to be beaten just two lengths by wonderfilly Ghanaati, who broke the track record.

The strong pace of the race seemed to suit Reggane well. Unraced as a juvenile, this was just the third run of her life. She had been held up on both her previous starts, winning on her debut at Chantilly at the start of May, and then coming home late but just failing to catch Homebound in the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham also over a mile at Chantilly at the end of the month. Alain de Royer-Dupre is not one to bring a horse over to Ascot unless he thinks that it can be competitive, and Reggane repaid his faith in spades. She should improve again for this, and will be a danger to all in the Falmouth Stakes (for which she is entered) if they go a fast pace in that, or in any race over a mile on fast ground when there is a strong early pace.

© The Irish Field, 27th June 2009