ZARIGANA (4.20) can zip to victory for France in the £650,000 Coronation Stakes on day four of the royal meeting.
Siyouni’s daughter and Owen Burrows-trained favourite Falakeyah are the likeliest candidates to put on a show over the round mile.
But unlike her market rival, Zarigana has already hit the bullseye at Group One level, albeit with a little help from Longchamp’s stewards.
Interference by first past the post She’s Perfect gave my selection the French 1,000 Guineas and the decision was upheld on appeal.
It split opinion but Zarigana came out as the better filly, considering how much ground she had to make up with Mickael Barzalona riding.
A speedy type having originally been thought of as an Oaks type for 1m 4f, Falakeyah is back at a mile after leading her rivals a merry dance in Newmarket’s Pretty Polly Stakes.
Shadwell’s supplemented hope has stacks of talent, but the two doubts are whether she is a little too exuberant for the big occasion and absolutely A1 after scoping dirty a short while ago.
Consistent type Cercene, just below the best in these races, has place claims along with lightly-raced 1,000 Guineas fifth Chantilly Lace and likely improver January.
1 Cathedral
Backed as if defeat was out of the question in the Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield, but could only manage fourth. Hung left and seemed inconvenienced by the track. The second and third have won since and could outrun her odds if appreciating this circuit.
2 Cercene
Never lets Joseph Murphy’s side down, finishing on the podium on each of her three starts this term. Third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas most recently, when beaten four lengths by Lake Victoria. Holds several of these and that form and should be scrapping away.
3 Chantilly Lace
Ran in a bog at Salisbury when taking a novice event from a couple of horses now rated around 80. Considering the bare level of that form, acquitted herself really well in the 1,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket when fifth at 25-1. That experience won’t be lost on her.
4 Duty First
Fourth in Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh was excellent given she looked to have found her grade a few rungs lower down the ladder. Sports cheekpieces now but seven furlongs might suit better.
5 Exactly
Another knocking on the door. Lacked a bit of room when fourth in French 1,000 Guineas at Longchamp latest, a length and a quarter behind Zarigana. Knocking on the door, yet without the assistance of Ryan Moore who jumps ship to January.
6 Falakeyah
Word from the trainer’s mouth is this filly is the best he has trained and she has made a great start by taking both of her starts to date. Forward going with a long stride, she carries the colours of one of the sport’s famous racing dynasties. Surprised connections with the amount of speed she has and tries a mile for now. Very smart, she is likely to be Group One class but Zarigana is preferred this time.
7 Flight
Had a solid record until underperforming in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and tends to hang right when asked for her final effort. No room for such manoeuvres here.
8 January
Ryan Moore’s pick spent her juvenile days chasing the tail of subsequent Classic heroine Desert Flower and is respected on that form alone. Must make a jolt of improvement from her seasonal debut but the omens are good with her running as the Ballydoyle number one.
9 Kon Tiki
Turf debut when staying on well to scoop the Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes at York. That convinced Jane Chapple-Hyam to add her into the mix at a late stage. Needs to find a good bit more though to hold a winning chance.
10 Simmering
Cheekpieces go on after Too Darn Hot’s daughter failed to follow-up her Classic place at Newmarket on Irish turf. Seems a little quirky and not open to as much as improvement as some of these.
11 Zarigana
Granddaughter of Zarkava, the undefeated French thoroughbred who won the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. French Classic triumph, where she was promoted after an enquiry, can be upgraded as her jockey gave her a lot to do. The number one candidate for this.
Rest of Friday’s Scout selections
SIGNORA (2.30) can demand respect from Royal Ascot punters in the opening Group Three Albany Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien has been the trainer to follow in the elite juvenile events this week and this filly is bred for the job.
Sired by champion Frankel, her dam is Heartache who won the Queen Mary in 2017 for Clive Cox’s team – and Signora was a promising third on her Naas introduction.
Set a Group Three target straight away, she raced greenly behind sharp sort Lady Iman and has plenty more under the bonnet.
Yet to publicly gallop on ground with any firm in the description, 2,000 Guineas third Shadow Of Light is not one to take a short price about in the Commonwealth Cup.
Likeable type Babouche might prove best of the fancied contenders, but if they underperform TIME FOR SANDALS (3.05) is fancied to capitalise.
At the time of writing, three of Harry Eustace’s past five runners have scored, including Docklands in the Queen Anne Stakes.
My 50-1 each-way hope thrived in a big field when coming from furthest back to close down the top two in the 2024 Weatherbys Super Sprint.
Pipped in Group races at six furlongs, she is yet to finish outside the top three and was a close second in the Lowther Stakes on fast ground.
Being drawn near the far side rail and alongside American sprinter Shisospicy will assist Richard Kingscote, who needs to deliver his mount as late as possible.
In first-time cheekpieces, WAR ROOMS (3.40) is a bet in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes for last year’s winning stable.
Rated lower here than in Ireland, he cost six figures and was given a good prep race by tough rival San Salvador at Killarney.
He had some good form for Owen Burrows, including a third to Economics in the Dante and that effort reads well back in a handicap with his mark edging down.
Cases can be made for well-supported Kempton winner Dash of Azure, thrice-raced Supermodel and Bountiful for last year’s winning team in the Sandringham Stakes.
But AMANGANI (5.00) has been given a quiet preparation by Joseph O’Brien, who had three of the first four home at big prices in a handicap earlier this week.
A little slow to come to hand, she made some headway before tiring in a Listed contest at the Curragh and this has been won by six fillies on their fourth career start since 2011.
Impressively strong at the end of 1m 4f last time, ZAHRANN (5.35) is tipped to keep up the momentum in the King Edward VII Stakes.
And REALIGN (6.10) gives every inkling a mark of 93 could be on the generous side in the concluding Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes.
The Scout’s Royal Ascot tips for Friday
2.30 Signora (trb)
3.05 Time For Sandals
3.40 War Rooms
4.20 Zarigana
5.00 Amangani
5.35 Zahrann (Nap)
6.10 Realign (nb)