It had been, as Frankie Dettori admitted afterwards, “a tough week for me and a tough week for [John Gosden’s] Clarehaven” before the Coronation Stakes here on Friday, but his difficulties on Thursday were largely consigned to history in the afternoon’s feature race, as Inspiral stormed past her field and into an unassailable lead to give both jockey and trainer their first winner of this year’s Royal meeting.
It was as impressive a victory as any this week, adding another outstanding miler and potential 10-furlong horse to a division that already includes Baaeed and Coroebus. And it was particularly satisfying for Inspiral’s connections, who had steered her around the 1,000 Guineas in England, Ireland and France as they felt she simply was not ready to reproduce her dominant juvenile form.
