The Commonwealth Cup is one of the most recent additions to the Royal Ascot programme, being staged for the first time in 2015, but it has already established solid credentials.
Two of the previous three winners had won the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock on their previous start and the 1-2 in that race, Sands Of Mali and INVINCIBLE ARMY, are both in the line-up.
It would be no surprise if they dominated again as the latter won the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot on his reappearance and that race produced the second and third in the Commonwealth Cup last season. Sands Of Mali has now twice got the better of James Tate’s colt but both are available at 8/1 (the latter with Unibet) so bookmakers are not expecting there to be much between the old rivals again. Stall 22 for Richard Fahey’s trail-blazer is off-putting as runners have been coming down the centre of the track at Ascot this week so he’ll forfeit ground if Paul Hanagan takes a right-hand turn. James Doyle is much better placed in stall 16 to cover all angles and his mount can come out on top this time.
Equilateral (a general 4/1) is the fly in the ointment as he gave weight and a comprehensive beating to a subsequent dual winner at Doncaster, though this is a huge step up in class. With Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore back on song, Naas Listed winner Sioux Nation has to go on the short-list as he won the Norfolk Stakes at the meeting last year and later the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh but Eqtidaar (a general 14/1) looks held on the form book.
Commonwealth Cup Current Best Odds
Equilateral 4/1, Sioux Nation 5/1, Invincible Army and Sands Of Mali 8/1, Eqtidaar 14/1, Fleet Review and Heartache 20/1, Laugh A Minute 22/1, Emblazoned and Main Desire 25/1, Speak In Colours 28/1, Cardsharp, Now You’re Talking, Enjazaat and Roussel 33/1, Gidu, Hey Jonesy and Unfortunately 40/1, Actress 50/1, Abel Handy and Fighting Irish 80/1, Stone Of Destiny 100/1
The Coronation Stakes could turn out to be the race of the meeting.
The Group 1 race over a mile features the winners of the English, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas. The Newmarket winner Billesdon Brook had to be supplemented, meaning her owner paid extra to include her after she wasn’t initially entered, but the outlay looks justified. She was huge outsider in the classic but last week’s French Oaks winner Laurens finished second and the third, Happily, also ran well at Chantilly and was beaten a similar distance in the Irish classic behind ALPHA CENTAURI.
Jessica Harrington’s filly was favourite for the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last year but beaten by a 20/1 chance. But she clearly benefited from the strong pace at the Curragh and there will be no hanging about again in the Coronation Stakes so the 4/1 available with Betway looks perfectly fair in an open race.
Once-again, we have a dark horse in the contest, though that’s probably not the right term to describe Clemmie, who was the top-rated juvenile last season. She was down the field in the Irish 1,000 Guineas but Seamie Heffernan was clearly at pains to make sure she didn’t have a hard race on her reappearance. With huge improvement expected, she is also only 4/1 with Betway.
Teppal was probably a surprise winner of the French 1,000 Guineas at Longchamp but remains undefeated and is not to be underestimated.
Coronation Stakes Current Best Odds
Clemmie and Alpha Centauri 4/1, Billesdon Brook 6/1, Teppal 15/2, Coeur De Beaute and Veracious 12/1, Threading 14/1, Capla Temptress 16/1, Anna Nerium 20/1, Adorable and Aim Of Artemis 33/1, Whitefountainfairy 40/1, Nkosikazi 200/1
Two fillies with the potential to be better than handicappers stand out in the Sandringham Stakes.
Ironically, the race had Listed status up to last year having being a regular fixture since first run in 2002. To be honest, it hasn’t made that much difference to the quality of entry. There are three fillies bidding for hat-tricks and a host of others arriving off the back of recent victories.
Those two that really catch the eye are QAZYNA and CEILIDHS DREAM and it may be best to split stakes on the pair, who start on opposite sides of the straight mile at Ascot. The former is 17/2 at Unibet having failed to stay 1m2f in the Pretty Polly Stakes last time. She’s earlier won a maiden which has worked out really well – two recent winners of the Sandringham Stakes ran in the Pretty Polly.
Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Oasis Dream makes equal appeal at 12/1 with Boylesports as she beat the very smart Sea Of Class at Newmarket before running in the Musidora at York. While it’s true that a mile isn’t far enough for Sea Of Class, it’s also fair to say Ceilidhs Dream didn’t stay 1m2f on the Knavesmire but the stiff mile at Ascot should be ideal.
Sandringham Stakes Current Best Odds
Qazyna 17/2, Ganayem 11/1, Ceilidhs Dream and Desert Diamond 12/1, Ship Of Dreams and Agrotera 14/1, Hence, Di Fede, Perfection, Terzetto and Dathanna 16/1, Broadway 18/1, Betty F 20/1, Wisdom Mind 25/1, Dark Rose Angel 28/1, Tajaanus and Ertiyad 33/1, Pride’s Gold and Bubble And Squeak 40/1, Why We Dream 50/1, Musical Art and Ortiz 66/1, Escape The City 100/1 (All Odds correct at 6.00pm June 21)
Friday’s Tip Of The Day: INVINCIBLE ARMY
