Weather to dictate Princess plan

Penkenna Princess could bid to improve on her close second at the Curragh on Sunday in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot at York on June 17 – weather permitting.

The Ralph Beckett-trained filly failed by a short head to catch Saoire in the Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas on ground officially described as good to yielding.

She had previously been well beaten on a fast surface in the Newmarket equivalent.

“She’ll probably go for the Coronation if the ground is right,” Beckett said today.

“I won’t run her on ground faster than good again. I learned my lesson at Newmarket and I won’t be doing that again.

“I’ve always thought she’d get further than a mile and she’s entered in the Prix de Diane (June 12). It’s a bit close to yesterday but at the same time I haven’t ruled it out.

“After the Coronation we’ll give her a break and we could bring her back for something at Deauville in August and then we’d look at races like the Sun Chariot in the autumn.”

Reflecting on yesterday’s race, Beckett said: “Everything went according to plan except she didn’t get her head in front.

“She was getting there but she didn’t actually get there until after the line. But she ran as well as I could possibly have dreamt.

“She’s fine this morning. She’s come back and she looks grand, a bit tired, but she looks herself.”