Cracksman, the co-3rd highest rated horse in the world headlines the £420,000 Gr.1 Coronation Cup. The seven-length winner of last season’s Gr.1 Champion Stakes made a sizzling return to action in the Gr.1 Prix Ganay over 10 furlongs at Longchamp.

 

Godolphin’s Hawkbill has also returned in 2018 in great style, with two victories at Meydan, UAE, in March including a decisive win in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on the Dubai World Cup undercard. The Charlie Appleby colt was third in last year’s Coronation Cup.

 

Idaho could bid to emulate his full-brother Highland Reel, who won this race 12 months ago. Idaho’s trainer The Ballydoyle master also saddles Cliffs Of Moher runner-up in last year’s Investec Derby and Yucatan.

 

German handler Markus Klug brings Gr. 1 Deutsches Derby winner Windstoss. He also stormed to a four-length success over the same distance in the G1 Preis Von Europa at Cologne in September. Windstoss’ sire  Shirocco won the Coronation Cup in 2006. Klug, who is based at the historic Gestut Rottgen near Cologne, revealed: “The plan is for Windstoss to run at Epsom Downs in the Investec Coronation Cup.

 

“He was third on his first start of the year, but was carrying a penalty for his G1 wins and wasn’t 100 per cent fit for his seasonal return. He has come out of that race well and has improved for the run. I have never been to Epsom Downs, but it looks a nice track on the TV! They go uphill and downhill – there are no similar courses in Germany – but Windstoss is a good-moving colt and his sire won around the course.

 

“Windstoss won the German Derby and the Preis Von Europa last season, but I am sure that he will be a better four-year-old. He has won on good ground and in soft conditions, so the ground should not be too important for him, apart from if it is very quick. We know that the Coronation Cup will be a very difficult race, but I think that we will give it a go.”

 

Recent Ascot Listed winner Barsanti trained by Roger Varian and Gr.1 runner-up Salouen also go forward.

 

• Cracksman
• Cliffs Of Moher
• Windtoss

 

 

Full List of Runners:

1. Cracksman (John Gosden), 2. Hawkbill (Charlie Appleby), 3. Idaho (A P O'Brien), 4. Windstoss (Markus Klug), 5. Yucatan (A P O'Brien), 6. Salouen (Sylvester Kirk)