Luxembourg Takes Coronation Cup in Frontrunning Fashion

A Ryan Moore masterclass saw the May 31 Coronation Cup (G1) go to Luxembourg .

The rider controlled the pace from the start aboard the 5-year-old and turned away challenges from Emily Upjohn  and Hamish  to seal a stylish victory at odds of 9-4.

Kieran Shoemark, aboard last year’s electric winner Emily Upjohn, was alive to Moore’s slow fractions and moved to position her closer in second, but the keen-going filly had no response to the increase in tempo.

It was left to the 8-year-old Hamish and Tom Marquand to make late gains, but the pair could never fully get to grips with Luxembourg. It was a fourth group 1 for the son of Camelot , whose last three runs had been in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.

“He’s been a great horse,” Moore said. “Things didn’t work out for him in the Middle East; he ran well the first day, and the second day was a mess, but he’s been a very consistent horse his whole life and has now been a group 1 winner at two, three, four and five. Not many horses can do that.

“He’s a straightforward, honest horse. This was his first group 1 at a mile and a half, and I always thought that would suit him; so I’m delighted he’s won today, and the team have done a good job to bring him back to win.”

Luxembourg races for the Coolmore-affiliated ownership of Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

Betfair cut Luxembourg to 10-1 (from 25) for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot back over 1 1/4 miles and he was also trimmed to 4-1 (from 10) for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) over the same distance.

The French raider Feed The Flame  was held up but ran respectably in third, leaving Emily Upjohn to finish fourth as the 7-4 favorite. Time Lock  was last of the five runners.