Alpha Centauri extremely impressive in winning Coronation Stakes

Alpha Centauri stole the show Friday at Royal Ascot.

The scopey gray filly cruised up to the lead three paths from the fence as the field swung for home in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, and by the time she had finished her run, she was six lengths clear as jockey Colm O’Donoghue raised his left fist to the cheering throngs at the finish line.

Alpha Centauri had run one mile over good-to-firm ground on Ascot’s round course in 1:35.49, more than one second faster than Barney Roy’s track-record clocking in the 2017 St. James’s Palace Stakes.

“She is absolutely amazing,” said trainer Jessica Harrington, who scored her first Royal Ascot win.

Alpha Centauri, by Mastercraftsman and out of Alpha Lupi, by Rahy, was bred and is owned by the Niarchos family. Her only poor race as a 2-year-old came over heavy ground, and after starting her 3-year-old campaign with another flat run on rain-soaked turf, Alpha Centauri won the Irish 1000 Guineas by 1 3/4 lengths. That was a good performance; Friday’s was better than good.

Racing in midpack as Adorable led on a strong pace, Alpha Centauri was maneuvered outside around the turn and, without being asked, had moved up to the leaders as the field straightened for home. And from there, the Coronation was nothing more than an exhibition of speed and power. Threading finished a distant second, Veracious third, English 1000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook fourth, and the well-regarded Clemmie fifth. The group behind her isn’t hapless – Alpha Centauri just made them look that way.

Eqtidaar captures Commonwealth Cup

Eqtidaar had lost three times since a debut win last August, but his first try at the Group 1 level halted that streak. Coming between horses in the middle of the course, Eqtidaar won the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup by a half-length over Sands of Mali.

Eqtidaar, with Jim Crowley up, raced in the main pack horses in the straight-course, six-furlong race for 3-year-olds while Sands of Mali rallied in a smaller group along the far-side running rail. Leading that pack was the Todd Pletcher-trained Gidu, who stayed on nicely to finish sixth of 22.

Emblazoned got third, a nose in front of Stone of Destiny, after being hampered through the final yards by a drifting Eqtidaar, who was timed in 1:12.12.

Michael Stoute, who has put together a very strong Royal Ascot meeting, trains Eqtidaar for Hamdan al Maktoum, whose Shadwell Stable bred the son of Invincible Spirit and the Acclamation mare Madany. Eqtidaar was a 16-1 shot in North American betting, while 2-1 favorite Sioux Nation turned in a clunker, finishing 16th.

• Earlier on the card, Main Edition won the Group 3 Albany Stakes, a 2-year-old race over six furlongs, finishing a neck in front of La Pelosa. The Wesley Ward-trained Stillwater Cove set a breakneck pace before fading badly to 13th. James Doyle, notching his second group stakes win of the week, rode the winner for trainer Mark Johnston and owner Saif Ali. Main Edition is by Zoffany and out of Maine Lobster, by Woodman.