Added to the Epsom Oaks/Derby meeting in 1902, the Coronation Cup regularly attracts runners who lined up in the Derby or Oaks during their Classic campaign and contains a roll of honour of all-time greats.
Horses such as Pretty Polly, Petite Etoile, Mill Reef, Rainbow Quest, Singspiel, and St Nicholas Abbey are all etched on the winner’s board.
Offering £425,000 (2024) in total prize money, the race never fails to attract a field containing the most talented older horses in training.
Top Coronation Cup Jockeys
Legendary jockey Lester Piggott is the most successful rider in the Coronation Cup winning the race on nine occasions from 1953 to 1983.
Three of those wins were back to back starting with Nagami in 1959 followed by a double win on Petite Etoile in 1960 and 1961.
The two leading jockeys in the Coronation Stakes over the last 20 renewals are Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori who have both won the race twice each.
With Dettori now plying his trade in the United States, Moore is the jockey who can continue to make/break new records in this race.
Top Coronation Cup Trainers
The leading trainer in the Coronation Cup over the last 20 renewals is Aidan O’Brien O'Brien who has won the race a record nine times.
Those nine winners coming from Yeats (2005), Scorpion (2007), Soldier Of Fortune (2008), Fame And Glory (2010), St Nicholas Abbey (2011, 2012 & 2013), Highland Reel (2017) and Luxembourg (2024).
Emphasising the often international appeal of this race, it is multiple French Champion Trainer André Fabre who lies second on the all-time list with six wins in all, In The Wings (1990) and Swain (1996) are just two of the Fabre-trained horses that took the the prize back across the Channel to France.
Top Coronation Cup Horses Of All Time
Being open to runners aged four and older, some previous winners return to Epsom in a bid to defend their crown. With new four-year-olds breaking on the scene season upon season, to do so is no mean feat.
Double winners include Petite Etoile, Pretty Polly, The White Knight, Triptych and Warrsan, but the only horse to win the race on three separate occasions was St Nicholas Abbey.
Hailing form the yard of Aidan O’Brien, St Nicholas Abbey landed close to £5 million in total prize money during his career, was a six time Group 1 winner, including this race in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
It’s highly unlikely his record in the Coronation Cup will ever be bettered.
Recent Coronation Cup Winners
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2024 – Luxembourg, Aidan O'Brien / Ryan Moore
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2023 - Emily Upjohn, John & Thady Gosden / Frankie Dettori
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2022 – Hukum, Owen Burrows / Jim Crowley
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2021 – Pyledriver, W Muir & C Grassick / Martin Dwyer
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2020 – Ghaiyyath, Charlie Appleby / William Buick
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2019 – Defoe, Roger Varian / Andrea Atzeni
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2018 – Cracksman, John Gosden / Frankie Dettori
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2017 – Highland Reel, Aidan O’Brien / Ryan Moore
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2016 – Postponed, Roger Varian / Andrea Atzeni
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2015 – Pether’s Moon, Richard Hannon / Pat Dobbs
