Coronation Stakes 2025 Preview – Runners Guide as Fillies Face Group 1 Round Mile at Royal Ascot

Group 1 action at Royal Ascot continues on Friday, 20 June with the Coronation Stakes of 2025 for three-year-old fillies on the Round Mile. A dozen remain in contention after two supplementary entries at the penultimate declaration stage.

Added in to the race at this relatively late stage are Shadwell Estates’ Falakeyah, dropping in trip after her Newmarket victory, and York scorer Kon Tiki for Jane Chapple-Hyam. Both fillies must step up on those Listed successes this spring, however.

They join French 1000 Guineas winner Zarigana, who will want an outright victory on the track after being awarded her last race by stewards. Exactly was back in fourth at Longchamp and arguably short of room close home, so re-opposes. Aidan O’Brien could also run January.

Looking to bounce back in the Coronation Stakes of 2025, meanwhile, are Ollie Sangster pair Flight and Simmering after flopping in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Neither could build on their previous placed efforts in the English equivalent earlier in the spring.

In front of both at the Curragh was Cercene for Joseph Murphy and Archie Watson’s Duty First. Ralph Beckett also has a couple in English 1000 Guineas fifth Chantilly Lace and Cathedral. Completing the possible line-up is Ger Lyons’ Red Letter, but she suffered defeat at Evens.

Those travelling to France for their equivalent of The Oaks, the Prix de Diane, won’t be able to manage the five-day turnaround across the Channel. Punters can therefore discount She’s Perfect, Merrily and Bedtime Story.

It leaves a most interesting market for bookies who have horse racing betting with traders wary of those supplemented fillies. Let’s see what our experts make of this females only age restricted contest with analysis of every likely entrant.

Coronation Stakes 2025 Runners Guide

1. Cathedral

Lightly-raced filly, but twice a beaten favourite since landing an All-Weather maiden on racecourse debut. Not disgraced either when runner-up at Newmarket or fourth on reappearance around Lingfield latest in Group 3s. This demands plenty more, however.

2. Cercene

Placed on all three starts in Group races this season. Eye-catching headway up the far rail into third in Irish 1000 Guineas latest. In front of Duty First, Flight, January and Simmering on that occasion. Repeat of that Classic run puts her down as one of the Coronation Stakes 2025 contenders who could outrun her odds.

3. Chantilly Lace

Even more lightly-raced than stable companion Cathedral and ran blinder when fifth in 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on her second career start. Not much to find with Flight or Simmering on that latest evidence. Open to the most progress in the field. Dark horse.

4. Duty First

Group 3 Classic trial winner on reappearance over 7f. Hasn’t appeared to stay a mile in either the English or Irish Guineas since. Looks a stretch on pedigree and more of a sprinting type. Connections try this trip again, but other Coronation Stakes 2025 runners appeal more.

5. Exactly

Third or fourth in previous Group 1 attempts including in the French Guineas latest. Ballydoyle’s leading light with Lake Victoria skipping Royal Ascot, though, but twice beaten across the Channel by Zarigana. Shortlisted all the same.

6. Falakeyah

This is eyecatching 👀

FALAKEYAH follows in the footsteps of future Oaks winner Taghrooda winning the @Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes in sparkling fashion ✨ pic.twitter.com/t0KvzFPUbO

— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) May 4, 2025

Supplemented for the Coronation Stakes of 2025 after landing Listed race over further when making most of the running at Newmarket latest. Had option of doing something similar for The Oaks, but connections opted for this instead. Unbeaten and could be anything. Respected.

7. Flight

Twice placed behind Desert Flower including on reappearance in the 1000 Guineas. Couldn’t build on that amazing run when sixth in the Irish equivalent latest. Has something to prove at this level now as 0 from 4 in Group races.

8. January

Listed winner as a juvenile and then twice runner-up to Desert Flower. Disappointing eighth on reappearance in Irish Guineas and entitled to strip fitter for that, but needs to. Again, other Coronation Stakes 2025 runners appeal more and she’s her stable second string.

9. Kon Tiki

The Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Kon Tiki comes down the stand side to win the Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes impressivley under David Egan! ✅@JaneChappleHyam | @SkyBet pic.twitter.com/cKYZ2o8ZyH

— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 16, 2025

Another unbeaten filly supplemented for the race. Just did enough to land a Listed event at York on turf debut latest, but runner-up and fourth well-beaten since. Third has come out and won, so form mixed. Must improve to stay undefeated and justify connections’ faith.

10. Red Letter

Behind some of these when seventh in the 1000 Guineas on reappearance. Since beaten when dropped into Listed company around Navan latest. Not replicated promising Group 1 fourth at the Curragh in the autumn. One of the Coronation Stakes 2025 fillies with something to prove.

11. Simmering

Career best when landing French Group 2 on soft ground as a juvenile last summer. Unable to go the pace to challenge in three subsequent starts over a mile. Best run since chasing home Lake Victoria at the Curragh was when third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Poor performance in Irish equivalent latest. Must bounce back quickly.

12. Zarigana

Controversially promoted from second past the post in French Classic latest, confirming past form with Exactly. Seems to go on any ground and only defeat came by a nose to a stable companion on Arc day. In the absence of the other Guineas winners, she’s the one to beat.

Coronation Stakes 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

Without Desert Flower and Lake Victoria, the only Group 1 winner in the field is ZARIGANA. She faces some old rivals, but also new dangers as trainer Francis-Henri Graffard runs some of his best horses at Royal Ascot. Of the familiar opposition to this cross-Channel raider, Exactly looks the biggest threat.

Unknown quantities abound, however, and Falakeyah has to be on any shortlist after swerving a go at The Oaks and dropping back in trip for this. Chantilly Lace could also have been laid out for the Coronation, meanwhile, and is the pick of Ralph Beckett’s pair.

At bigger odds, Cercene looks a good each-way bet based on her Irish Guineas third. Plenty disappointed that day, however, and may not have given their true running. Ollie Sangster must pick up his pair Flight and Simmering quickly.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee