The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Alpha Centauri stars for nervy Harrington
Trainer relieved to chalk up first winner at Royal Ascot
National Hunt stalwart Jessica Harrington lapped up her first Royal Ascot winner when Alpha Centauri romped home in the Coronation Stakes in record time.
Harrington, 71, admitted being very nervous before the one-mile Group One for three-year-old fillies, despite being used to success at the very top over jumps in races such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Unlucky in the Albany Stakes last year, Alpha Centauri (11-4 favourite) made amends in style.
Winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas, she left a strong field that included the victors of the English and French equivalents, Billesdon Brook and Teppal, trailing in her wake as Colm O’Donoghue simply guided his mount home by six majestic lengths from Threading, with Veracious third.
“I’m relieved. I got very wound up. I was very nervous today. I know she’s very good,” said Harrington, who is based in County Kildare.
“I’ve had Ascot winners, but I’ve never had a Royal Ascot winner and it’s absolutely fantastic.”
Sir Michael Stoute’s record-breaking exploits got better when he took the Commonwealth Cup with Eqtidaar (12-1), who held Sands Of Mali by half a length in the hands of Jim Crowley.
Having become the winning-most trainer at Royal Ascot, the Newmarket handler enjoyed his third success of the week while Charlie Appleby took the King Edward VII Stakes with Old Persian (9-2).