Caravaggio tops 19-horse line-up for Royal Ascot
THE unbeaten Caravaggio heads a list of 19 horses confirmed for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday.
Winner of the Coventry Stakes at the meeting 12 months ago, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt went on to land the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August.
He impressed on his comeback run when easily winning a Group Three at Naas last month.
O’Brien has a total of five possibles, with his team also comprising Intelligence Cross, Peace Envoy, Pedestal and Alphabet.
Sheila Lavery’s Mr Scarlet is another Irish entry while the French are represented by Pia Brandt’s Fas and Straight Right from Christophe Ferland’s stable.
Leading the home challenge is the Clive Cox-trained Harry Angel and Godolphin’s Blue Point, trained by Charlie Appleby.
American trainer Wesley Ward is responsible for Bound For Nowhere while the field is completed by Legendary Lunch, Sir Dancealot, Sparkalot, Tis Marvellous, Victory Angel, Visionary, Yalta and Queen Kindly.
French 1000 Guineas winner Precieuse is in line for a showdown with dual Classic heroine Winter after being supplemented for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, also on Friday.
Precieuse, who is trained by Fabrice Chappet, beat Sea Of Grace at Deauville and the William Haggas-trained runner-up is also among the 12 confirmations.
Winter sets the standard thanks her victories in the English and Irish 1000 Guineas.
Her trainer Aidan O’Brien has three other possibles in Roly Poly and Hydrangea, who were second and third respectively at the Curragh, plus Rain Goddess. She was fifth behind Precieuse in France.
Joseph O’Brien has left in Intricately which was fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas while there is a second French raider in Wajnah, who was fourth in the Deauville Classic.
There is a North American challenger in the Mark Casse-trained La Coronel and completing the dozen are John Gosden’s pair of Daban and Dabyah and Roger Varian’s Tomyris.
Meanwhile, Battaash showed his rivals a clean pair of heels as he triumphed in the Randox Health Scurry Stakes at Sandown.
Trained by Charlie Hills and ridden by Dane O’Neill, Battaash was sent off an 11-1 shot as he made his seasonal bow in the five-furlong Listed heat.
Battaash pulled a length and a quarter clear of the fast-finishing Koropick at the line with 7-2 favourite Copper Knight in third.