fifth choice in the betting behind Happily, Soliloquy (Nell Gwyn Stakes), Who's Steph and Clemmie (Cheveley Park Stakes). Alpha Centauri was settled in mid-division as Could It Be Love, a 33/1 outsider who was presumed to be running as a pacemaker for the Aidan O'Brien stable's more fancied runners set off in front and opened up a long lead. Approaching the final furlong Could It Be Love was still in front and looked to be on the verge of a huge upset victory but Alpha Centauri produced a strong late run, gained the advantage in the last hundred yards and won by one and three quarter lengths. On 22 June at Royal Ascot Alpha Centauri started 11/4 favourite for the Coronation Stakes in a twelve-runner field which included Clemmie, Billesdon Brook, Teppal (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches), Threading (Lowther Stakes) and Cour de Beaute (Prix Imprudence). Having settled towards the middle of the field she overtook the front-running Veracious approaching the final furlong and accelerated away to win by six lengths in "very impressive" style. Harrington, who was recording her first Group 1 win in Britain said "Colm was very confident on her and she settled great. I thought he'd got to the front a bit soon but the further she went, the better she went." Three weeks later, Alpha Centauri was matched against older fillies and mares in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Starting at odds of 4/9 she took the lead after the first quarter mile and was never in danger of defeat, drawing away in the closing stages to win "easily" by four and a half lengths from Altyn Orda. In the paddock after the race Harrington commented "She's just an amazing filly. And the lovely thing about her, she's so relaxed, she doesn't get upset, she comes in here, has her photograph taken and goes away. I sometimes think, before a race, she's almost too relaxed". The Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville Racecourse on 12 August saw Alpha Centauri tested against male opposition. She went off the 9/10 favourite against ten opponents including With You (Prix Rothschild), Intellogent (Prix Jean Prat), Recoletos (Prix d'Ispahan), Romanised (Irish 2,000 Guineas) and Accidental Agent (Queen Anne Stakes). She tracked the front-running With You before taking the lead 500 metres and drew away to win by two and a half lengths from Recoletos. In response to the performance the