Commonwealth Cup

Last year's G1 Middle Park S. winner Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has wintered well, according to trainer Clive Cox, and will stick to sprints for his 3-year-old campaign, with the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot his key early season target. Cox said the G3 Pavilion S. at Ascot on Apr. 28 and the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock on May 22 are under consideration as starting points for the colt. "Supremacy will stay at six furlongs, so we're looking at the Pavilion, the normal sprinting route--with possibly the...

Last season's G2 Gimcrack S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. third Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) will make a belated start to his 3-year-old campaign after suffering a leg injury in his box at trainer Owen Burrows's stable. "Unfortunately Minzaal injured himself in his box before Christmas," said Burrows. "He's had to have surgery and he's back at [owner] Shadwell at the moment recuperating." The first key target for Minzaal's 3-year-old campaign had been the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but Burrows admitted it will be a race against...

This year's G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}-Entreat {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) has been retired from racing after suffering a tendon injury. Stud plans have not yet been decided. "He suffered a tendon issue that proved to be longer term than first realised, so rather than miss a complete season it was with reluctance that it was decided to retire him to stud," said trainer Clive Cox. "He was the best horse owned so far by HH Sheikh Sultan Al Deen bin Mohammed bin Salman Al...

Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) has exited his G1 Commonwealth Cup victory last week "really well" and is set to tackle elders in the G1 Darley July Cup on July 11, trainer Clive Cox said. Golden Horde was emulating his young sire with a Royal Ascot Group 1 victory, Lethal Force having taken the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in 2013 for Cox, and the 3-year-old will also attempt to follow his sire into the July Cup winner's enclosure. "He's come out of it really well," Cox said. "He took...

It is not only the most hygienic Royal Ascot ever staged that features on Friday, with Chantilly and Gowran Park also holding meetings with notable races. The Berkshire venue, of course, is at the forefront, with the G1 Commonwealth Cup the main focus as 'TDN Rising Star' Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) defends his unbeaten tally for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Roger Varian. If the truth were told, nobody knows the true extent of his abilities but his smooth success in Newbury's G2 Mill Reef S. in...

With the first foals of 2020 starting to appear and the finalization of mating plans taking place, there is no better time than the present to consider the new stallions who have joined rosters across Europe. On that list is Eqtidaar (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who has joined his owner/breeder Sheikh Hamdan's Nunnery Stud just outside Newmarket. Eqtidaar was an impressive winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, a win which on closer inspection showed strong form lines and which Tom Pennington, nominations and marketing Manager at Shadwell,...

Simon Crisford's Jash (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), runner-up in the G1 Middle Park S. last term, has knocked one of his joints which will restrict him until the latter part of the season. Successful in his 3-year-old bow, the Liste King Charles II S. at Newmarket on May 18, the Shadwell colourbearer ran sixth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and has been missing from racecourse action since. "Jash has actually just knocked a joint and has had a hold-up," said owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager, Angus...

Making it a dozen group 1 wins this summer, Frankie Dettori had Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to aid his cause of streaking through the major European events in Deauville's G1 Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday. Occupying 11-5 favouritism in this unique 6 1/2-furlong test, Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited's G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Phoenix S. hero and G1 July Cup runner-up travelled strongly behind compatriot Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who provided an ideal lead in the dominant group racing furthest from the rail. Taking over approaching the...