Lucida Among Three Seeking Coronation

Time/Date - 16.20hrs local time/Friday, June 19, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Royal Ascot/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m

Lucida spearheads a three-strong Godolphin assault on the Coronation Stakes, with Local Time and Sperry also running in the mile Group One for three-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot, UK, on Friday, June 19.

Lucida (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) ran well to finish second, beaten three quarters of a length after being headed in the closing stages by Legatissimo, in the first British fillies' Classic, the Group One QIPCO 1000 Guineas, over the same distance at Newmarket on May 3.

The Shamardal filly ended a superb juvenile campaign with two appearances at the same course, coming home a close fifth in the Group One Dubai Fillies' Mile in October and gaining an authoritative victory in the seven-furlong Group Two Shadwell Rockfel Stakes in September.

Local Time (Saeed bin Suroor/William Buick), who was 10th in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, also enjoyed Pattern success over seven furlongs at Newmarket last season with a game neck verdict in the Group Three Triconnex Oh So Sharp Stakes in October.

The daughter of Invincible Spirit completed a hat-trick of dirt wins at Meydan, UAE, at the start of the year, including impressive displays in both the mile Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Sponsored By Nova An IPIC Powered Company and the extended nine-furlong UAE Oaks Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Sperry (John Gosden/James Doyle) steps up markedly in class after staying on well to take a mile Listed race at York on May 15.

The Shamardal filly quickened clear to take a conditions race, run over the same course and distance as the Coronation Stakes, on April 29 and scored by seven lengths in a seven-furlong Tapeta maiden at Wolverhampton in November.

Jim Bolger commented: "Lucida is very well and I am hoping that she is able to find some improvement on her Guineas run."

Saeed bin Suroor said: "Local Time ran some very good races in Dubai at the start of the year, but she didn't enjoy the ground at Newmarket, so any rain would help.

"She has been working really well and a stiff mile will suit her. It's a tough race, but I am hoping for a better result."

John Gosden reported: "I have been very pleased with Sperry since her win at York. She is a progressive filly, although I am very aware that she is taking on Classic class fillies."

The Godolphin trio meet six fillies Including Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Found, plus Ervedya and Irish Rookie, who were first and second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.