Dubai: Clive Brittain’s Rizeena returns to her happy hunting ground at Ascot to confront the best of her generation in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, the feature race of Day four at the Royal meeting.
The winner of four out of eight starts during a promising juvenile campaign, which included a smart victory in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at this showpiece event 12 months ago, Rizeena is reported to be in top condition ahead of the mile-long race, which is the third leg of the QIPCO British Champions Series Fillies & Mares category.
Brittain, who won the race in 2000 with Crimplene, said: “She’s all set to go and she’s in very good form, so we are looking for her to bounce back to her best.
“She couldn’t be in better health and her work has been good. She was working well before the Guineas and it surprised us how she ran there.
“She’s won twice on fast ground at Ascot on the straight track and has won going right-handed at the Curragh, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Rizeena is owned by Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum and will be ridden by three-time British champion jockey Ryan Moore whose Royal Ascot resume is missing a Coronation Stakes victory.
The threats come in the form of the John Oxx-trainer My Titania, a well-bred daughter of European champion Sea The Stars, and Lightning Thunder, who was runner-up in both the English and Irish versions of the 1,000 Guineas (G1)
Declan McDonogh, who rides the former, said: “She’s in good shape, the boss is happy with her and she’s working well, so we’re looking forward to it.
“She has her ground, which is a big plus, and we’ll find out where we stand.
“It’s a step up in class for her. She’s won a Group Three and now we’re hoping she can match up against the best, but you never really know until you try.
“It’s a big step forward. Hopefully she’s up to it.”
Today’s card also features the G2 King Edward VII Stakes and the Group 3 Queen’s Vase.
