Ask lands Coronation Cup for Stoute

Sir Michael Stoute’s Ask emerged as the surprise winner of the 2009 Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday, defeating heavily backed antepost favourite Youmzain to claim the first group one race of the 2009 Derby Festival.

The result provided the 6 year old with the first group one win of his career, and was achieved by the tightest of margins as he finished the race a nose ahead of Youmzain. 2008 Epsom Oaks winner, Look Here, finished the Coronation Cup in third place.

“Things just went wrong last year and we never got the rub of the green,” Stoute told Sky Sports after the race. “This wouldn’t be his ideal track but we thought we had to take our chance.”

“We were prepared to just go and sit in front and from my angle passing the post I thought he’d won but we’ve been caught a few times recently so thank goodness it went our way this time. Where he runs next will be ground dependant as he doesn’t want the ground too quick.”

Following the race Mick Channon suggested that he’d be sending Youmzain to the King George Stakes at the Goodwood Festival in an attempt to secure a first group win for his horse on British soil.