English/Ire
Cercene causes Coronation Stakes shock
"He's been very very good to me; I'm delighted to repay him."
Just over an hour on from Time Sandal's causing a shock in the Commonwealth Cup, bookmakers were once again on the winning side when Cercene struck at odds of 33/1 in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes for Joseph Murphy and Gary Carroll, who were both enjoying a breakthrough victory at the top level.
Despite finishing third behind Lake Victoria in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas on her last start, the daughter of Australia was seemingly unfancied in a contest that featured French 1000 Guineas victor Zarigana and Owen Burrows' supplemented Falakeyah, who created a striking impression in the Listed Pretty Polly at Newmarket last time.
However, the latter raced freely in the early stages and as her effort petered out tamely in the straight, Mickael Barzalona angled out Zarigana to make her challenge. It looked as though it was going to prove a winning move as she quickened up to join Cercene in the final furlong, but Gary Carroll's mount wasn't to be denied, and she battled back bravely to score by half a length from the 6/4 market leader.
Aidan O'Brien's January finished back in third.
"This is 50 years of work by the family, going from a small yard, switching from National Hunt to Flat, buying horses and believing that they are going to be good. It is a lifetime's ambition to have a Group 1 winner," said Murphy.
"Cercene is by Australia – a sire I love – and her half-brother won the Britannia, so the pedigree was there. If she was an inch bigger, I wouldn't have her.
"She travelled well, and Gary gave her a great ride. We were thinking that being by Australia that she would stay well. She was headed and came back again. She waited for something to head her, but she is very tough and a dream to train.
"When you look back at the [Irish] Guineas, in the last furlong, she passed three horses. I remember her very first run in Gowran, she was last then she flew turning in and was third – another 20 yards and she would have won.
"I have been training for 50 years. Fifty years waiting for a Group 1 winner, but we have been second and third in Group 1's. So, we've been knocking on the door, but didn't open it – today, we opened it."
It was also a first Group 1 success for former Irish champion apprentice Gary Carroll, who added: "This is unbelievable. I have been riding a long time now and been placed in plenty of Group 1 races. This is my first one and, if I was ever to ride a Group 1 winner, I wanted it to be for Joe Murphy.
"I have been riding for him since I was a 7lb claimer and he has been very good to me. I am delighted I can repay him.
"This is hugely satisfying. Group 1 races are so hard to come by, and good horses are very hard to come by. To do this at Royal Ascot is magic."
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