Frankie Dettori teams up with Anna Salai for the first time today as the Godolphin filly chases a first Group One success in the Coronation Stakes Royal Ascot. The three-year-old was denied by a head over the same one-mile distance in the Group One Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh, Ireland, on May 23, when she led with half a furlong to go but was caught on the line by Bethrah.
She made her first start for Mahmood al Zarooni, the Godolphin trainer, in the Irish Classic, having previously raced for Andre Fabre. Al Zarooni told godolphin.com:"Anna Salai was unlucky to get beaten on the line at the Curragh but she has come out of that race in good form and I have been pleased with her preparation. "I am looking forward to seeing how Frankie Dettori gets on with her and she should go close."
Buzzword represents Godolphin in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes . The three-year-old, ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, drops down in class after contesting three European Classics, including the Derby at Epsom Downs on June 5 when he finished eighth behind Workforce Al Zarooni said: "Buzzword has run with credit at all of the major meetings throughout his career and deserves to take his chance at Royal Ascot. I thought that he stayed the mile and a half of the Investec Derby but came up against some very tough opposition."
Al Sharood and Idiom make the step up to Group Three company for the Albany Stakes. Both fillies go into the six-furlong contest on the back of victories, with Al Sharood having run on strongly to gain a success in a Newmarket fillies' maiden, also over six furlongs, on May 28, while Idiom became Godolphin's first juvenile winner of the season on May 27 when a strong finish sealed a superb five-length verdict in a Newcastle fillies' maiden over six furlongs.
* Agency