Cracksman makes Coronation Cup fifth straight stakes win

Cracksman had to work to catch the longshot Salouen to record his fifth consecutive stakes win in Friday’s Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs in England, while Forever Together benefited from a clean trip to win for the first time in the Group 1 English Oaks later on the program.

Forever Together (7-1) closed from fourth in a field of nine under jockey Donnacha O’Brien to give his father, trainer Aidan O’Brien, a seventh win in the $663,500 English Oaks at 1 1/2 miles on soft turf. Forever Together pulled clear in the final furlong to win by 4 1/2 lengths over 5-2 favorite Wild Illusion.

The English Oaks was Forever Together’s second start of 2018 and was preceded by a troubled second in the Cheshire Oaks at Chester Racecourse on May 9. O’Brien said wet conditions led him to start Forever Together in the Cheshire Oaks instead of maiden races in Ireland earlier this spring.

“She was still a maiden until today, but the ground was so bad we couldn’t stand it, so we skipped the maidens and she ran a lovely race at Chester,” he said.

Donnacha O’Brien, 19, guided Forever Together to the outside of the track, closest to the stands, through the uphill finish, and caught stretch leader Wild Illusion with more than a furlong remaining.

“She is very genuine and galloped out to the line really well,” the rider said. “I got a nice run down the rail and she stayed on really strongly.”

Aidan O’Brien had five runners in the field and was third with Bye Bye Baby, who took the lead from stablemate Flattering with more than a mile to go and was beaten eight lengths by Forever Together.

Forever Together, by Galileo, races for the Coolmore team of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. Forever Together has started four times. She is a candidate for the Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 21, Aidan O’Brien said.

Cracksman is the future-book favorite for the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20 and the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 7.

In the $557,340 Coronation Cup at 1 1/2 miles, Cracksman (2-7) was fully extended under jockey Frankie Dettori to catch 33-1 Salouen in the final strides and win by a head. Windtross, a 20-1 chance, finished third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths.

Winning trainer John Gosden said class carried Cracksman to the front.

“I don’t know why, but he wasn’t comfortable during the race,” he said. “It certainly wasn’t the horse we know. However, he showed guts to get up and win and that’s what I’m pleased about.”

Cracksman has won three consecutive Group 1 races, including the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October and the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on April 29. Owned by Anthony Oppenheimer, Cracksman has won 7 of 9 starts. A colt by Frankel, Cracksman was third in the 2017 English Derby.