2015 Investec Coronation Cup runners facts and figures

A look at some fact and figures surrounding the six runners set go to post for today’s Group 1 Investec Cronation Stakes over 1m 4f at Epsom today (15.10).

Owned by Kuwaiti businessmen Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, who will be forever linked to Frankie Dettori’s only Investec Derby winner Authorized (2007), who they also owned. Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket, where this horse is trained by Roger Varian, was the home of 1982 Investec Coronation Cup winner Easter Sun, who was trained by Varian’s mentor, Michael Jarvis, for Lady Beaverbrook.

Dolniya
The last filly to win this race was In The Groove in 1991. This filly’s owner, HH Aga Khan IV, won it in 2000 with Daliapour and in 1961 with Petite Etoile. One year earlier the same filly had scored in the colours of his father, Prince Aly Khan. The current Aga Khan’s grandfather, HH Aga Khan III, won the race three times – Dastur 1933; Winterhalter 1941; Nuccio 1952. Jockey Christophe Soumillon is the only rider this year to have won it in the past – he scored 12 months ago on Cirrus Des Aigles – but trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has yet to saddle a runner. Dolniya is a strong favourite.

Named after a county in Wales, he has finished second in six of his eight most recent races – including this one last year, but also the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and when chasing home Dolniya in a pair of races this season. He is bidding to become trainer Andre Fabre’s seventh winner of the Investec Coronation Cup (which would equal Aidan O’Brien’s record), while owner Khalid Abdullah has won it twice – 20 years ago with Sunshack, and 30 years ago with Rainbow Quest. Jockey Maxime Guyon has ridden in the race just once before, on this horse last year.

Five-year-olds have a good record, winning seven times in the past 20 years, most recently through St Nicholas Abbey, although that horse also won aged four and six. The Hannon stable is synonymous with big races in Britain, but this will be Richard’s first runner in the contest, while his father, who held a licence for 43 years from 1970, never saddled an Investec Coronation Cup runner. Jockey Pat Dobbs has yet to win a Group 1 race.

Romsdal
Third in last year’s Investec Derby (when a 20/1 shot), and later second in the St Leger, he was bred by the Barnett family (under the name of W & R Barnett Ltd) at their Fair Winter Farm in Buckinghamshire. They also bred the 1981 Coronation Cup winner Master Willie and 1984 heroine Time Charter. Trainer John Gosden has won most of Britain’s premier races, but he has yet to strike lucky in four attempts on this one, while jockey William Buick, who has ridden in the contest three times, is also awaiting a first success. Romsdal is a district in Norway.

Sheikhzayedroad
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd, which comprises a group of Dubai businessmen – the horse is named after a pivotal highway in Dubai – with an interest in racing and breeding. One member, Mohammed Jaber, owns this horse, while another, Saeed Manana, owned the double Investec Coronation Cup winner Warrsan (2003 & 2004). Jockey Martin Lane has yet to win a Group 1 race in Europe, although he landed the Grade One Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine on this horse in September. This will be a first ride in the Investec Coronation Cup for Lane, and a debut runner for trainer David Simcock.