William Haggas hasn't won the Coronation Cup (G1) since he began training 34 years ago. That would be dispiriting if you didn't know that he has had only two runners in the race. Will it be a case of third time lucky with Al Aasy?
The Newmarket trainer, who has saddled in excess of 2,000 career winners, rarely sends his best mile-and-a-half talents to Epsom. His lack of Derby runners over the years proves that. And his two previous Coronation Cup representatives—South Easter (2010) and Beaten Up (2012)—finished sixth and fifth, respectively, behind Aidan O'Brien-trained hotpots.
The betting indicates that Haggas may gain revenge on his Irish counterpart this year. Al Aasy bounced back from a disappointing sixth in the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (G3) last July with an impressive last-to-first success on his 4-year-old reappearance at Newbury.
On ratings he had every right to win the Dubai Duty Free John Porter Finest Surprise S (G3), the form of which was franked when eighth-home Euchen Glen won the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) last month, but there is no denying that he captured the imagination with his effortless performance.
Haggas had this race in mind after his Newbury strike, but Al Aasy, who is entered in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), was reportedly so well in himself that he was given another outing in the Al Rayyan Aston Park Stakes (G3), again at Newbury. There he sauntered clear of last year's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (G2) winner Thunderous and 2019 William Hill St. Leger (G1) winner Logician to record another scintillating success.
Whether he was flattered by below-par performances from his aforementioned rivals is up for debate, but an RPR of 124 suggests he's more than good enough to win the Coronation Cup.
The ground may be the biggest question he has to answer. Al Aasy's sole run on going described as quicker than good ended in a fifth-placed finish to Mishriff in the 2020 Betfair Exchange Free Bet Streak Newmarket Stakes.
"He's looked better this season, although he's been beating depleted fields," said Haggas. "On both occasions the opposition didn't really run up to scratch, but he can only do as much as he's done, and this will be a much sterner test. Andrew Cooper (clerk of the course) always looks after the ground very well, and I won’t be using that as an excuse."
Trainer Aidan O'Brien relies on Japan and Mogul following the defection of four-time group 1-winner Love at the confirmation stage. Just one pound splits the pair on official ratings, but whether they will perform to that high standard is arguable given consistency isn't their primary attribute.
Japan seemed to need every yard of the Investec Derby (G1) distance in 2019, but proved his class by plundering the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and Juddmonte International (G1). His 4-year-old season was a big disappointment with five consecutive defeats, but he bounced back to win last month's Tote+ Pays You More At Tote.co.uk Ormonde Stakes (G3). Handling the drop in trip would make him a major player.
"Everything has gone well with Japan and the plan was always to go to Chester to give him confidence ahead of Epsom," said O'Brien. "That's why Ryan (Moore) has stuck with him. He was delighted with him in the Ormonde Stakes."
Mogul has been campaigned to fill the void left by globetrotting superstar Highland Reel. Aside from a monstrous Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) performance, he hasn't quite lived up to expectations with three short-priced defeats. He now needs to reverse form with Pyledriver, who has beaten him on two occasions.
"Mogul improved an awful lot from his first run of the season in Dubai to his second start in France. They went very slow (at Longchamp), which wouldn't have suited, and the ground went against him there. Seamus (Heffernan) rides him in most of his work and knows him well."
Pyledriver's ability has never been in question, although his concentration on the job in hand has. All four of his starts since contesting last year's Derby have resulted in wayward finishing efforts, and yet headgear is still to be enlisted. If there's one place you don't want a horse to hang, it has to be Epsom.
"I was delighted with his comeback because there is no way you can take a horse to his peak first time out and keep him there the whole season," said co-trainer William Muir. "The object this year is to win a group 1 and he was always going to improve for his first run—he just got tired in the closing stages. We made a plan to start in the Betfair Exchange Jockey Club (G2), then come here, then the Hardwicke (G2), and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1).
