Immortal Verse storms to Coronation success

Report: Royal Ascot, Friday

Coronation Stakes (Group 1) 1m, 3yo fillies

IMMORTAL VERSE led home a French-trained one-two when she stormed clear of Nova Hawk in the Coronation Stakes, the highlight of Friday's card at Royal Ascot.

The 8-1 winner is trained by Robert Collet, whose son Rod is responsible for Nova Hawk, who returned at 9-2.

Barefoot Lady, a 16-1 chance, fared best of the domestic runners in third, while 7-2 favourite Together finished fifth for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

A daughter of Pivotal, Immortal Verse was withdrawn from the Qipco 1,000 Guineas and never got involved in the French equivalent - the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches - finishing 11^th of 16.

She got back on track in a Group 2 atChantilly this month and carried that form into the royal meeting, displaying a stunning turn of foot to reward punters who had followed Tom Segal's Pricewise advice in Friday's Racing Post.

Robert Collet was quick to praise his winner and defended her unruly actions in the Guineas at Newmarket.

"This filly is the best filly I've trained," he said.

"At Newmarket there was a lot of wind and the hood she wore into the stalls irritated her. Things didn't go to plan in the French Guineas but she's come back again and proved she is a Group 1 filly."

Her jockey Gerald Mosse added: "I believe the pace was good enough for the ground but it wasn't that fast. I dropped her in behind to make sure she was totally relaxed and she's got a fantastic turn of foot."

Nova Hawk, fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and Pouliches, ran with credit to claim fourth, while a step up in trip could be on the agenda for Barefoot Lady.

Her trainer Richard Fahey said: "She's very tough and very genuine.

"She looked the first beat, but was still there at the death.

"I've said it before, butshe's the toughest filly I've trained and I think she probably wants a bit further now."