Coco goes wild at Doncaster
Sent off the 7-4 favourite having won the Lillie Langtry Stakes on her reappearance this season, Henry Cecil’s four-year-old took a further step forward by winning the contest known as the ‘fillies’ St Leger’.
Owned by the German breeding operation Gestut Rottgen, she is the first horse they have had in training with Cecil.
She looked to have plenty to do three furlongs out as Paul Hanagan kicked clear on Estimate, the Queen’s Royal Ascot winner.
However, Wild Coco was just hitting top gear inside the final furlong under Tom Queally and always looked like getting up, winning by a length and a quarter. Estimate lost second on the line to Hazel Lavery.
Jocelyn de Moubray, representing the winning owners, said: “She’ll probably go to Ascot next (Fillies’ And Mares’ Stakes, on Champions Day).”
Hazel Lavery could head to France for her next run while Estimate is likely to step up in trip.
The other Group race on the card, the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes, went to the rejuvenated Sunday Times.
Peter Chapple-Hyam’s filly was second in the Cheveley Park Stakes at two but in three runs this season had shown very little.
The 22-1 chance quickened up in smart style on Town Moor, though, to beat Godolphin’s Gamilati by a length.
