A day of dramatic upsets and emotional milestones marked the fourth day of Royal Ascot 2025, as Cercene delivered a stunning 33-1 victory in the Coronation Stakes, handing veteran trainer Joseph Murphy his long-awaited first Group One triumph. Nearly five decades into his training career, Murphy finally saw his persistence and belief pay off as Cercene surged late to beat the heavily favored Zarigana by half a length.
Murphy reflected on the victory as a culmination of a lifetime’s ambition, highlighting the journey from a small stable, a shift from National Hunt to Flat racing, and years of unyielding dedication. The filly’s performance embodied that resilience headed at the furlong marker, she battled back tenaciously under jockey Gary Carroll, who has been associated with Murphy since his early days as a 7lb claimer. Carroll praised Cercene’s heart, crediting her refusal to quit even after being passed momentarily by Zarigana.
The theme of smaller, family-run operations shining continued earlier in the day when Harry Eustace’s Time For Sandals captured the Group One Commonwealth Cup at 25-1. The filly, aided by a strong pace and a favorable set-up, delivered on long-held expectations that had yet to materialize in previous starts. Eustace, whose father trained at the family’s Park Lodge Stables before handing over the reins in 2020, noted the challenges of the wide draw and credited a strong work ethic passed down through generations.
Another standout performance came in the opening Albany Stakes, where Venetian Sun justified late market support to land the race under Clifford Lee. Backed from 12-1 to 7-1, the two-year-old filly showed blistering form to enhance her prospects for the 1,000 Guineas next year. Her trainer, Karl Burke, described her as an exceptional talent, already outworking older Group-class horses at home.
The day closed with Oisin Murphy taking his fourth win of the meeting aboard Adrestia, keeping him within reach of Ryan Moore in the race for leading jockey, with Moore sitting on six wins. Meanwhile, the trainers’ competition remains tight, with Aidan O’Brien and the Gosden stable both on five wins apiece.
Looking ahead to the final day, hopes are high for Satono Reve to secure Japan’s first Royal Ascot win this century. The six-year-old, a top-level winner in Japan, brings strong international form and has acclimatized well in Newmarket. With elite jockey João Moreira flying in for the ride, connections are confident he can finally break Japan’s long-standing drought.
Saturday’s card features several strong contenders across the board, with Rebel’s Romance, Remmooz, and Purosangue among those tipped to shine as Royal Ascot 2025 nears its grand finale.
