LiveScore Racing Daily: Latest news, form and analysis for June 19, 2021

Campanelle awarded dramatic Commonwealth Cup victory

Campanelle was awarded victory in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday following a dramatic stewards' inquiry, with the Wesley Ward-trained filly having initially been beaten in a photo-finish by Dragon Symbol.

Last year's Queen Mary winner appeared to be the horse to beat for the majority of the race under the guidance of jockey Frankie Dettori, but Oisin Murphy steered Dragon Symbol back into the contest as the duo moved clear of the chasing pack.

With the two horses alongside each other, Dragon Symbol began veering to the right, forcing Murphy to switch his whip into his right hand before he eventually got his mount straightened up and across the line in first place.

However, the inevitable inquiry soon followed and the victory was eventually awarded to Campanelle, with winning trainer Ward acknowledging that the right outcome was reached. 

"Both horses ran fantastic, you can take nothing away from them, they dug down deep and were only inches apart there," Ward told reporters. "I think it was a validated result as far as racing in the States is concerned, they came all the way across the track."

Murphy not to be denied in Coronation Stakes

After being denied a victory in the stewards' room earlier in the afternoon, dual champion jockey Oisin Murphy was able to savour a Group One success at Royal Ascot on Friday, as he steered Alcohol Free to a comfortable victory in the latest renewal of the Coronation Stakes.

The Andrew Balding-trained filly left nothing to chance, claiming the victory by a length and a half from Snow Lantern, who stayed on late but could not overhaul the eventual winner.

For Murphy, he was happy to secure the victory, while remaining philosophical regarding his near-miss in the Commonwealth Cup.

"I said to my valet - there is no place for tears [after losing last race]," the 25-year-old told reporters. "There are harder things in the world. We are in the entertainment industry. Let's look forward to the next one."

Balding joins illustrious company with Ascot double

It has certainly been a good week for Andrew Balding at Royal Ascot. Following on from Berkshire Shadow's victory in Tuesday's Coventry Stakes, Sandrine was able to triumph in Friday's opener, the Albany Stakes.

Sandrine's win means Balding has become just the third trainer to complete the six-furlong juvenile double in the same year, following in the footsteps of Aidan O'Brien in 2016 and Richard Hannon Snr in 2010.

Balding was delighted with the performance Sandrine produced in the Group Three Fillies' contest and he has high hopes for the two-year-old going forward.

"She (Sandrine) did it nicely today, there's no fluke about it. She travelled like the best horse in the race and I thought she was impressive," Balding was quoted as saying by the Racing Post. 

Royal Ascot survives weather scare

Day four of Royal Ascot nearly did not take place after heavy rain forced an inspection of the ground ahead of the seven-race card getting underway.

A total of 26mm of rain fell overnight and into Friday morning, causing the ground conditions to change to soft and forcing clerk of the course Chris Stickels to convey a large team, that included jockeys Frankie Dettori and Oisin Murphy, to conduct an early afternoon inspection.

Contingency plans had been put in place, but thankfully the inspection was passed following a delay, although the official going was changed to soft, heavy in places.