Alcohol Free bounces back for second Group 1 in Coronation Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) winner Alcohol Free (No Nay Never) bounced back from a fifth place finish in the English 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) to give trainer Andrew Balding a double on the day in the Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m), after taking the Albany Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) earlier on the card with Sandrine (Bobby’s Kitten).
Having been demoted following a stewards’ enquiry into the previous race on the card, Commonwealth Cup (Gr 1, 6f) after passing the post first, jockey Oisin Murphy claimed Group 1 glory on the filly for owner Jeff Smith.
German Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Novemba (Gleneagles), set the pace and was challenged on both sides entering the final furlong. Alcohol Free (3 f ex Plying by Hard Spun) raced midfield with cover, moved through to lead with half a furlong to run and went clear to win by a length and a half from Snow Lantern (Frankel) and Mother Earth (Zoffany), who were split by a neck for second and third, while Novemba stayed on for fourth.
Salisbury racecourse chairman Smith was delighted with his filly Alcohol Free’s victory and was quick to praise the team at Balding’s yard.
“I’m very emotional because we felt we were very unlucky in the Guineas and there’s only one Guineas,” he said.
“The whole team at Kingsclere has done a wonderful job, they trained her for this race after the Guineas, a specific target and what a delivery.”
Balding was confident before the race that the ground would not be a problem and that her class would shine through.
“She’s got a lot of class and as Jeff said nothing happened right for her in the Guineas, which was a shame, but we aimed towards this race and she’s so adaptable ground-wise and she’s got that class to enable her travel.
“Credit to Oisin, the measure of the man to have the disappointment he had to deal with five minutes before the race. To give her such a good ride is a credit to him.”
Regarding future plans, he added: “She’s in the July Cup and the Sussex Stakes – whether she does both or one I don’t know, but I think we’ll stick to Britain this year.”
Having been unshiped after the line, Murphy was legged back up by groom Cassia Cooper who rides the filly each day and he outlined that she must take credit as the winner is not straight-forward.
“Alcohol Free is not easy, Cassia has to ride her every day, she’s a real pain but so talented. They got her here in super form.
“Andrew’s had three winners at Royal Ascot, just brilliant for the team.
“She’s a daughter of No Nay Never, no worries (about the ground). If she relaxed, I was always going to have a great chance. I managed to follow Frankie, she relaxed great, I did say if I didn’t touch her mouth she’d win and everything went to plan.”
Bred by Churchtown House Stud, Alcohol Free was sold for €40,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale to Littleton Stud. She is a half-sister to French Listed winner Alexander James (Camelot), out of the three-time winner Plying (Hard Spun) while their second dam was placed in the National Stakes (Listed, 5f).
Her sire, former shuttler and Group 1-winning sprinter, No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) stands at Coolmore in Ireland for a fee of €125,000 (approx. AUD$198,000).