Guineas queen Hermosa set for Royal Ascot as O'Brien targets Coronation Stakes

Hermosa will bid to plunder a third Group 1 over a mile after Aidan O'Brien revealed that his brilliant dual 1,000 Guineas heroine will be rerouted to the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot rather than step up in trip for the Prix de Diane.

The 1m2½f Chantilly Classic on Sunday week was nominated by O'Brien as Hermosa's intended target after her Irish Guineas success last month. However, O'Brien has told the Racing Post she will instead wait for the Coronation Stakes the following Friday.

Hermosa will be attempting to emulate Winter (2017) and Attraction (2004), the two fillies to follow success in the British and Irish Guineas with victory in the Coronation.

"She came out of the Irish Guineas well and after we discussed plans we decided to aim for the Coronation rather than the Prix de Diane," O'Brien said on Wednesday.

O'Brien also revealed that Qipco 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia, who disappointed when fifth in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, was found to have been suffering from a pulled hamstring.

The St James's Palace Stakes, a race O'Brien has been successful in on seven occasions, remains his intended target should he come right in time.

Magna Grecia: 2,000 Guineas winner was found to have been suffering from a pulled hamstringCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien said: "The hamstring issue only came to light when Magna Grecia went back cantering. We're hoping to run him in the St James's Palace but it will depend on whether he continues responding to treatment. We'll review things towards the end of next week."

Magical, who made it three from three for the season by landing the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month, remains a likely candidate for the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

"Nothing is set in stone just yet but that's the race we're looking at as Magical's next target," O'Brien said.

Japan, who finished third in the Investec Derby, and Circus Maximus, who was back in sixth, are in the mix for the King Edward VII Stakes.

Japan: bound for the King Edward VII StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

O'Brien said: "We're thinking along those lines but we have others in the race and the picture will be become clearer when they are all back in full work."

Although Kew Gardens, Southern France, Flag Of Honour and Capri remain under consideration for the Gold Cup, O'Brien said: "All four are also in the Hardwicke Stakes and we'll be keeping our options open as to how we might split them up."

O'Brien confirmed Le Brivido is on target for the Queen Anne Stakes for which the five-year-old has been cut to 4-1 favouritism (from 11-2) by Coral.

Le Brivido: 2017 Jersey Stakes winner on target for the Queen Anne StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

On plans for the shorter-distance races at the meeting, O'Brien said: "Ten Sovereigns is being aimed at the Commonwealth Cup and Sergei Prokofiev at the King's Stand Stakes and we might give So Perfect a second try at seven furlongs in the Jersey Stakes."

Running plans for the two-year-olds have yet to be finalised although Arizona, an eight-length winner at the Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend, is being aimed at the Coventry Stakes and Etoile, a Group 3 winner on her debut at Naas last month, has the Albany Stakes as her target.

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