Coronation Stakes (Group 1)

THE Group 1 Coronation Stakes provided Andrew Balding with yet more cheer, as Alcohol Free proved her stamina for a mile by beating Snow Lantern (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) and Guineas winner Mother Earth (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) by a length and a half and a neck, with German challenger Novemba fourth having made much of the running.

It was an immediate fillip to rider Oisin Murphy, who must have been smarting after losing the Commonwealth Cup, but he controlled his emotions to produce a power-packed ride, reversing Newmarket form with the third and answering critics who suggested the daughter of No Nay Never ought to be sprinting.

Once again, the field swung to the outside rail after the start, with Novemba tracking over from the inside stall to lead, and she looked like she might repeat her demolition in the German 1000 Guineas when briefly kicking clear having swung wide in the straight.

She kept on well enough, but could not withstand the finishers, with Alcohol Free returned the 11/2 winner.

Newmarket

Now that the winner has proven beyond doubt that she stays, she will be kept to a mile, and Balding must be tempted by the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket next month.

Snow Lantern was a little disappointing behind Primo Bacio (a non-runner here) at York, but justified her trainer’s faith in her by splitting a top-class pair. Her dam won this race in 2013 before a controversial defeat in the Falmouth, so I’m sure Richard Hannon will be keen to right that particular wrong.

Murphy said: “I didn’t get a chance to stress ahead of Alcohol Free. I had a plan and I don’t know if Andrew agreed me, but he filled me with confidence when I told him what I was going to do.

Jeff Smith said: “It was very emotional because we felt we were very unlucky in the Guineas and there’s only one Guineas.

“The whole team at Kingsclere have just done a wonderful job. They’ve trained her for this race, after the Guineas, as a specific target and what a delivery. It’s just absolutely fabulous.”

Balding said: “Alcohol Free is very classy. We had heavy hearts after Newmarket because it isn’t often you go into a classic expecting to win it. For whatever reason it didn’t pan out that day and she was below-par, but she was back to her best today, and she looked pretty good.”