The 3-year-old filly Tahiyra added a third Group 1 to her resume with a one-length victory in the Coronation Stakes on Friday at Royal Ascot. While Tahiyra came through as the favorite, odds-on Little Big Bear was defeated by Shaquille in the day’s other Group 1, the Commonwealth Stakes, a 3-year-old straight-course sprint. Tahiyra’s success seemed a foregone conclusion from the betting on the Coronation, a one-turn mile for 3-year-old fillies, as she went to post the 1-5 favorite on the international tote. The Coronation turned messy in the early stages, several riders volleying for position, and after racing forwardly the first half-furlong, Tahiyra settled last under Chris Hayes. Hayes waited patiently into the long Ascot homestretch, and after turning for the wire, Tahiyra, coming widest, appeared clearly to be travelling best and looked like an easy winner. Instead of a brilliant swoop to the lead, Tahiyra needed some time to reel in the leaders, and at the finish, Remarquee was at least holding her own, if not making ground on the winner. Nonetheless, Tahiyra ($2.80) ran her record to four wins from five starts, the lone loss a second-place finish in the 1000 Guineas, where Tahiyra nearly overcame a disastrous start. At 2, the filly won the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, and she came to Royal Ascot after victory in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas. Sound of Haven finished third, while pacesetting Meditate, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall, set the pace and faded to fourth. :: Royal Ascot 2023: Get PPs, previews, analysis, recaps, and more Tahiyra has Breeders’ Cup links of her own as a sister to BC Filly and Mare Turf winner Tarnawa. Dermot Weld, who trained Tarnawa and trains Tahiyra, called Tahiyra a much different sort of horse than her sister, perhaps more miler than middle-distance type. Weld said Tahiyra would get a summer break and be aimed at autumn targets. An Aga Khan homebred, Tahirya is by Siyouni out of Tarana, by Cape Cross. In the Commonwealth, Shaquille gave himself a handicap by rearing and blowing the break, yet he still rumbled past Little Big Bear to win his Group 1 debut by 1 1/4 lengths. Swingalong, a 66-1 shot, finished third, with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Mischief Magic eighth. Oisin Murphy rode the winner, who put forth a relentless rally over the final three furlongs, never stopping until he’d reeled in Little Big Bear, the odds-on favorite for Coolmore connections. The victory was a first at the Group 1 level and at Royal Ascot for trainer Julie Camacho. Shaquille, by Charm Spirit out of Magic, by Galileo, finished ninth in his second start last August, but has won his other five races. :: Bet Royal Ascot racing on DRF Bets * King of Steel, a fine second behind Auguste Rodin in the Derby, was a decisive winner of the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes over 1 1/2 miles. Launching a sustained run from the rear of the field, King of Steel and jockey Kevin Stotts hit the front with about 1 1/2 furlongs to race and widened the lead to 3 1/2 lengths at the end. King of Steel, a Wootton Bassett colt trained by Roger Varian, might return to Group 1 competition in the Grand Prix de Paris. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.