Ouija Board in training for Coronation Cup

Ouija Board has wintered well and is back in training with Ed Dunlop to be prepared for a seasonal reappearance in the Vodafone Coronation Cup.

Now a four-year-old, Ouija Board, who was named champion turf female at America’s Eclipse Awards in January, is only being put through her paces at Gainsborough Stables at this stage, but early reports suggest she has been progressing nicely.

“Ed is very happy with her – she is in great order and looking very well,” said Peter Stanley, racing manager to owner Lord Derby.

“She was turned out in the paddocks at Gainsborough during the winter. We were happy to leave here there, and it was all straightforward.”

The daughter of Cape Cross proved herself to be one of the finest fillies of recent memory last term, winning the English and Irish Oaks as well as the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on her final start.

She also finished third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and is set to take on the colts again over the Oaks course and distance when she returns at Epsom on June 3, exactly 12 months after her ultra-impressive seven-length victory over All Too Beautiful.

“She is not doing a lot at the moment – just ticking over,” added Stanley. “Basically, her first target is the Coronation Cup in June. It will be nice to get her back to Epsom, which is where she had her last run in this country.

“She has filled out, although she hasn’t grown. But it is early days – there is a lot of time to go between March and June, but we are happy with things at the moment.”