15:05 Ascot 17 Jun 2025
Coventry Stakes
Group 2 | Class 1 | 2YO only
Winner £99,242 - 20 ran
in touch in mid-division stands side, switched right and progress up centre from 3f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, ran on well
held up in mid-division far side, pushed along and headway when not much room over 1f out, kept on to lead group inside final furlong, no impression on winner
led stands side group, edged left and headed over 1f out, no impression on winner, kept on
held up towards rear stands side, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 4th towards finish
chase leaders far side, led group over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
held up in rear far side, ridden and headway over 2f out, no extra final 75 yards
chased leaders far side, driven and lost place over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders far side, every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final 100 yards
held up in rear far side, headway over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
raced stands side, took keen hold, mid-division, shaken up over 2f out, driven over 1f out, never dangerous
held up in rear stands side, some headway over 1f out, no impression
slowly away, held up in rear far side, headway when not much room over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, soon ridden and edged left, never dangerous, no extra inside final furlong
prominent stands side, lost place over 2f out, well beaten from over 1f out
led far side group, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear stands side, switched left over 2f out, driven and edged right over 1f out, no impression
in touch in mid-division stands side, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear stands side, headway and pushed right 3f out, driven over 2f out, no extra from over 1f out
soon prominent far side, lost place over 2f out, well beaten over 1f out
prominent stands side, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £328.56 (9, 7) |
| Tricast | £15,479.10 (9, 7, 6) |
| Win | £4.75 (9) |
| Place | £1.90 (9), £8.35 (7), £13.25 (6), £2.05 (2) |
| Swinger | £280.95 (6, 7), £57.70 (6, 9), £45.65 (7, 9) |
| Exacta | £235.20 (9, 7) |
| Trifecta | £7,016.20 (9, 7, 6) |
Expert Analysis
The typically large field for historically the best of the 2yo races at Royal Ascot, though it was missing an important contender in 107-rated Albert Einstein, whose Marble Hill form was represented by Power Blue and Andab. As it is, Albert Einstein’s stable-companion Gstaad gave that pair an even more handsome beating to go to the top of the juvenile pecking order, for now, with a slightly above-average winning performance for the race in recent times (it was stronger still 10+ years ago).
It was a well-run affair on ground that was nearer “good” than “good to firm” (faster than that later in the week) with the field splitting into 2 groups, those drawn 2 to 10 racing centre to far side and including the runner-up and the remainder centre to near side, with the winner ending up in the centre. There was no apparent advantage in that respect. The winner’s final 2f of 24.18s gives a finishing speed of 101.2%.
GSTAAD (113+ here, 102+ previously) had clearly achieved more in beating True Love (Queen Mary winner later in week) at Navan than it first appeared, and he made it 2 out of 2 with an authoritative success, in mid-field and asked to improve at halfway, good headway to lead over 1f out and running on strongly, hit once with the whip but mostly pushed along vigorously. Sprint bred, he strides like one who will get further when the time comes.
DO OR DO NOT (103 here, 96 previously) ran even better than he had in what is proving to be a strong York novice (the winner of it, Tadej, was 6th here), staying on well from the rear towards the far side and looking ready for a step up to 7f at some stage. A race or 2 seems sure to come his way.
COPPULL (102 here, 82+ previously) did plenty of running up with the pace towards the stand side but stuck to his task well despite tending to lug left. This was a big improvement on the form of his debut win and he could well do better again, probably at this sort of trip for now.
ANDAB (100 here and previously) ran a similar race in form terms to his 3rd at the Curragh, emerging from the rear of the near-side group to chase the winner then merely keeping on. 7f may suit him a bit better.
POWER BLUE (100 here, 102 previously) ran creditably with no real excuses, for all that he was closer to the pace than most, leading briefly soon after halfway and tending to edge right.
TADEJ (97 here and previously) is one of the better 2yo colts in Britain so far, but that was not good enough to get him a place in this, close up until edging right/no extra late on. He is not obviously in need of further just yet.
RAAKEB (94 here, 91 previously)
BOURBON BLUES (92 here, 88 previously)
ROCK ON THUNDER (91 here, 87 previously)
WARSAW (91+ here, 98+ previously) beat a useful sort in Fairy Oak at Navan and is better judged on that, unable to sustain a forward move from the rear this time on the back of just a 10-day turnaround. There may well be better to come at 7f/8f.
POSTMODERN (83 here, 91+ previously) had probably beaten little at Yarmouth, albeit in good style, but should have fared better even so, failing to settle then finding little.
SHAATIR (83 here, 90 previously)
AMERICAN GULF (82 here, 89+ previously) looked good against ordinary rivals at Windsor but could not step up, quite worked up at the stalls.
SUPER SOLDIER (80 here, 95 previously)
KOLKATA KNIGHT (79 here, 85 previously)
GAVOO (78 here, 85 previously)
MILITARY CODE (78 here, 103 previously) disappointed, even if this trip proves to be too far at this stage, sweating beforehand and finding little in the race itself.
BALLISTIC MISSILE (75 here, 91 previously)
BONE MARRA (0 here, 80 previously)
UNDERWRITER (0 here, 84 previously)
Video Highlights
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Replay: 15:05 Ascot 17th Jun 2025 -
Post-Race Reaction: 17th Jun 2025 -
Post-Race Analysis: 17th Jun 2025
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Good to Firm | 22 | Rashabar | 10 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 32 | 40 days | B J Meehan (54 miles) | B Loughnane | 80/ 1 | 1:13.90 |
| 2023 | Good | 20 | River Tiber | 6 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 11 | 30 days | A P O'Brien (399 miles) | Ryan Moore | 11/ 8 | 1:15.49 |
| 2022 | Good to Firm | 17 | Bradsell | 2 | 2 | 9 3 | - | 1 | 24 days | A Watson (28 miles) | Hollie Doyle | 8/ 1 | 1:13.02 |
| 2021 | Good to Firm | 17 | Berkshire Shadow | 17 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 60 days | A M Balding (33 miles) | Oisin Murphy | 11/ 1 | 1:13.55 |
| 2020 | Good | 15 | Nando Parrado | 6 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 5 | 16 days | C G Cox (42 miles) | Adam Kirby | 150/ 1 | 1:15.21 |
| 2019 | Good | 17 | Arizona | 3 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 21 | 23 days | A P O'Brien (399 miles) | Ryan Moore | 15/ 8 | 1:13.02 |
| 2018 | Good to Firm | 23 | Calyx | 22 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 10 days | J & T Gosden (100 miles) | Frankie Dettori | 2/ 1 | 1:13.51 |
| 2017 | Good to Firm | 18 | Rajasinghe | 9 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 32 days | R Spencer (100 miles) | Stevie Donohoe | 11/ 1 | 1:12.39 |
| 2016 | Soft | 18 | Caravaggio | 13 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 11 | 24 days | A P O'Brien (399 miles) | Ryan Moore | 13/ 8 | 1:16.36 |
| 2015 | Good to Firm | 17 | Buratino | 10 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 13121 | 10 days | C & M Johnston (243 miles) | William Buick | 6/ 1 | 1:13.11 |
| 2014 | Good | 15 | The Wow Signal | 1 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 27 days | J & S Quinn (227 miles) | Frankie Dettori | 5/ 1 | 1:12.99 |
| 2013 | Good | 15 | War Command | 15 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 11 days | A P O'Brien (399 miles) | Seamie Heffernan | 20/ 1 | 1:12.86 |
| 2012 | Good | 22 | Dawn Approach | 13 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 111 | 15 days | J S Bolger (343 miles) | Kevin Manning | 7/ 2 | 1:13.64 |
| 2011 | Good | 23 | Power | 19 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 11 | 24 days | A P O'Brien (399 miles) | Ryan Moore | 4/ 1 | 1:13.55 |
| 2010 | Good | 15 | Strong Suit | 8 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 32 days | R Hannon (52 miles) | Richard Hughes | 15/ 8 | 1:14.29 |
| 2009 | Good to Firm | 13 | Canford Cliffs | 9 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 32 days | R Hannon (52 miles) | Richard Hughes | 7/ 4 | 1:13.64 |
| 2008 | Good to Firm | 18 | Art Connoisseur | 2 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 11 | 62 days | M L W Bell (100 miles) | Jamie Spencer | 8/ 1 | 0:00.00 |
| 2007 | Good to Firm | 20 | Henrythenavigator | 17 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 1 | 44 days | A P O'Brien (399 miles) | Mick Kinane | 11/ 4 | 1:12.46 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 21 | Hellvelyn | 6 | 2 | 9 1 | - | 11 | 25 days | B Smart (240 miles) | Ted Durcan | 4/ 1 | 1:14.51 |
| 2005 | Good to Firm | 15 | Red Clubs | 2 | 2 | 8 12 | - | 611 | 20 days | B W Hills (27 miles) | Michael Hills | 11/ 2 | 1:10.91 |
