Alpine Star Crowned in Coronation

ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Niarchos Family homebred Alpine Star was crowned a comfortable winner in Saturday’s Coronation Stakes (G1) on Day 5 of the 2020 Royal Ascot Meet.

Breaking from the stalls under Frankie Dettori at 9/2 odds stateside, Alpine Star chased comfortably from third behind Run Wild, who went to the early lead. The American runner Sharing was initially keen to press the pace three-wide before being taken back toward the rear to settle.

Cloak Of Spirits moved up to take the lead as the field straightened for home, but Alpine Star – patiently held waiting for room along the outer rail – soon got what he waited for and surged through an opening. Taking the lead midway home, the Jessica Harrington trainee proved much too strong, drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

When Alpine Star completed the 8-furlong event in a final time of 1:42.21 over the good to soft footing, it gave Frankie Dettori his first victory in the race, the last remaining Group 1 Royal Ascot event missing from his resume.

“It has taken 30 years to win all the Group 1s, but I can say that I have really conquered Royal Ascot now – I am delighted for all the people concerned,” said Dettori, who inherited the mount after regular rider Shane Foley was unable to travel. “I really fancied Alpine Star. I didn’t want to jinx it, so I kept quiet. Jessie approached me about 10 days ago when she knew that Shane couldn’t fly here. I kept it quiet and knew she was an exciting ride.”

Sharing was unable to keep pace with the runaway winner, taking second by 1 3/4 lengths over Quadrilateral and So Wonderful. Coak Of Spirits, Love Locket, and Run Wild completed the order of finish.

Another day and another Royal Ascot milestone for @FrankieDettori

Alpine Star gives him his first ever victory in the Coronation Stakes

And that means Frankie has now won every Royal Ascot Group 1 race 🤩#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/snnU0l3u6a

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2020

Alpine Star’s win came in her 2020 debut and was her third straight, following a 7-furlong triumph in the Debutante Stakes (G2) at Curragh last August. The 3-year-old Sea The Moon filly is out of the Rahy mare Alpha Lupi, making her a half-sister to the 2018 Coronation champion Alpha Centauri.

“I could not believe it because she was the only horse in the field that hadn’t had a run this year, but she is amazing,” Harrington said. “She is very laidback and nothing like Alpha Centauri, who was a great big, very imposing filly. This filly is not very big, she is not a great color – a little bit of a mealy chestnut. If you saw her trotting around in the string, you wouldn’t pick her out, but she has the most wonderful attitude.”

Alpine Star returned $11.20 to win and $3.40 to place, Sharing brought back $2.80 to place, and Quadrilateral paid $2.20 to place.