Cercene
Cercene
20th-Jun-2025
I am taking a chance on Cercene in the Coronation Stakes. I think that there is more to come from Joe Murphy’s filly.
She proved herself deserving of her place among the top fillies of her generation when she finished a close-up third in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown in March, unlucky not to get closer, and when she went down by just a half a length to Atsila in the Athasi Stakes at The Curragh next time.
She put up a career-best performance last time when she finished third in the Irish 1000 Guineas. She was only four lengths behind Lake Victoria there, and Lake Victoria would have been a short-priced favourite for this race had a setback not ruled her out. Also, Cercene came from mid-division in the Irish Guineas, in a race in which the pace was not strong and in which the prominent racers were advantaged. She was second fastest through the final three furlongs, second only behind Lake Victoria.
I like her draw in stall one here, it means that Gary Carroll – who went close on Snellen on Tuesday in the Kensington Palace Stakes – can ride her for luck in behind the leaders in the hope that she will get the gaps late on. A half-sister to Perotto, who won a Britannia and a Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot, the move to Ascot should suit her and a fast-run stiff mile on fast ground is probably close to optimal for her. She could out-run her odds by a fair way.
CERCENE WON (ADV 33/1, SP 33/1)
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