We came close to securing four places from five bets at the Curragh on Sunday, but ultimately ended up with three. One of these was Cercene in the Irish 1000 Guineas. While I initially planned to hold off on tipping her until her future plans were clearer, only a couple of firms still offer 100/1 odds, making it worth the risk.
I believe Cercene’s performance in the Guineas was much better than it appeared. Though she secured third, I was anticipating a strong early pace when tipping her. Instead, the pace was slower.
David Egan led and controlled the race, knowing it was advantageous to create a sprint in the last furlongs. His strategy almost worked, but Lake Victoria had the speed to overtake California Dreamer at the end.
Cercene raced keenly near the front and did well to finish third, considering the race dynamics. I expect her to have a better pace to target at Ascot, and I believe her true potential will show with the right race conditions, similar to Goliath last year.
The 100/1 odds are an underestimation, and with a fast early pace, she could close the 4l gap to Lake Victoria. At these odds, Cercene is worth an e/w bet, and hopefully, she will take her chance and deliver a strong performance.
2025 Coronation Stakes Ante-Post Tip: Cercene e/w @ 100/1
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com