Together, a close second in both the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and in the equivalent at the Curragh on Sunday, will bid to gain some compensation for going so close in two classic races when lining up for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, writes Elliot Slater.
The Derrick Smith-owned daughter of Galileo was caught in the dying strides at HQ by Frankie Dettori on Blue Bunting then suffered the same fate at the Curragh where she burst through to lead at the furlong marker only to be run out of it close home by her Aidan O'Brien-trained stable companion, Misty For Me. Those examining the Royal Ascot odds would still have been impressed by her efforts.
Although she has gone eight races without success since landing a juvenile Group 3 contest at Leopardstown last July, Together has consistently gone close in top class races, finishing fourth to Misty For Me in the Group 1 Moyglare stud Stakes at the Curragh last August before failing by only a neck to hold the smart White Moonstone in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies Stakes at Ascot a month later. Third to Massaya in the Tattersalls Millions race at Newmarket on her next outing, she than ran another solid race when a very respectable fifth of 14 to More Than Real in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs.
Ryan Moore, who rode Together at the Curragh at the weekend, felt the filly had done little wrong and agreed with O'Brien that it would make sense to stick with the pre-Guineas plan of staying at a mile for the foreseeable, and that includes for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Having placed or run well in so many top class events over the last 12 months, few will resent Together gaining a much deserved Group 1 success if indeed she does have her moment in the sun at the royal meeting.