Russian Rhythm looks too good

Russian Rhythm will be all the rage in the betting ring at Royal Ascot on Friday when she takes on 10 rivals in the $455,000 Group 1 Coronation Stakes.

A Kentucky-bred 3-year-old daughter of Kingmambo, Russian Rhythm took Newmarket's one-mile 1000 Guineas in her first start of the season on May 4, turning back the unlucky favorite Six Perfections by 1 1/2 lengths.

Kieren Fallon will be aboard Russian Rhythm once again for trainer Michael Stoute.

Russian Rhythm could be as low as 2-5 for this one-turn, right-handed mile, which in recent years has gone to subsequent Breeders' Cup winners Banks Hill and Ridgewood Pearl.

It is difficult to say from where a challenge might emerge, so superior does Russian Rhythm appear to be. Mick Channon, who won Tuesday's St. James's Palace Stakes with Zafeen, will saddle Mail the Desert, but the Desert Prince filly has not run since taking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh Sept. 1.

Diacada won a subpar renewal of the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas and may be a cut below her British rivals. Soviet Song won last autumn's Group 1 Fillies Mile over the Coronation Stakes course and distance, but was 4 1/2 lengths behind Russian Rhythm when fourth in the 1000 Guineas, while the Godolphin runner Gonfilia was only 12th in the same race.

* Big Bad Bob looks like the winner of the $275,000 King Edward VII Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile, Group 2 race for 3-year-old colts and geldings. A John Dunlop-trained son of Bob Back, Big Bad Bob was two lengths second to subsequent Epsom Derby winner Kris Kin in the Dee Stakes last time. He appears to have an edge over Epsom Derby 12th-place finisher Alberto Giacometti and recent listed winner Sabre d'Argent.