Blue Point and Harry Angel primed for Commonwealth Cup showdown

Exciting sprinters Blue Point and Harry Angel headline Godolphin’s nine contenders for day four of Royal Ascot on Friday, June 23. 

Both three-year-old colts line up in the six-furlong G1 Commonwealth Cup with Blue Point (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), drawn 10 of the 12 runners, aiming for a second consecutive course and distance win after breaking the course record with a scintillating display in the G3 Pavilion Stakes on May 3. 

Harry Angel (Clive Cox/Adam Kirby) was second behind Blue Point and the son of Dark Angel subsequently powered to a decisive four and a half-length success in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes, also over six furlongs at Haydock Park on May 27, when he too set a new course record. He exits from stall seven.

Charlie Appleby reported: “We have been very happy with Blue Point since he won the Pavilion Stakes and have been looking forward to this race. 

“His preparation has been great and he has conditions to suit. He holds the track record and it should be a good burn up.”

Clive Cox commented: “I have been thrilled with the progress that Harry Angel has shown so far and couldn’t be more pleased with the way he looks at the moment.

“I think that he is still not quite the finished article mentally but he has certainly gone the right way and I believe that we can chisel a really fine edge on him with experience.

“We are very relaxed regarding the ground and it is great to be going to Royal Ascot in good form. He is giving me all the right impressions about his confidence.”

The Commonwealth Cup field also features unbeaten G1 winner Caravaggio and US challenger Bound For Nowhere.

Listed winner Best Solution (Saeed bin Suroor/Pat Cosgrave), eighth in the G1 Derby at Epsom Downs on June 2, runs in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes.  

Best Of Days (Hugo Palmer/James Doyle) makes his seasonal return in the 12-furlong contest following a progressive juvenile campaign that included a game victory in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket in September. 

Saeed bin Suroor remarked: “Best Solution ran well in the Derby but would prefer softer ground. This trip suits him well and he has been working nicely.”

Charlie Appleby said: “The drop back in trip didn’t really suit Wolf Country in the Dante, when he turned in well but just lacked a bit of pace to finish fifth. 

“He has physically done well since then. We have a bit to find on the ratings but I feel he should be competitive back over a mile and a half. 

“He has won twice with juice in the ground but his homework has been good on quicker ground.”

Hugo Palmer commented: “Best Of Days had a setback in the spring, which is why he didn’t make the Derby. I thought that we would miss that race by a couple of weeks and I have been really, really pleased with his work. 

“He seems to be improving all of the time and I am excited about running him over a mile and a half. 

“My only slight misgiving is that we are going into a G2 at Royal Ascot on his seasonal reappearance, which is not an easy thing to do.”

Alqamar (James Doyle), a decisive 12-furlong handicap scorer at York on May 19, and the consistent Secret Advisor (William Buick) both go for Charlie Appleby in the Queen’s Vase, which is a G2 race this year over a new distance of a mile and three quarters. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Both Alqamar and Secret Advisor have very stout pedigrees, so we are hoping that the step up in trip will see further improvement. 

“Alqamar won well at York last time. The race broke down a little bit but he could do no more than win like he did. 

“Secret Advisor has a bit to find with some of the field but he is a horse that has pleased during his campaign so far. 

“We dropped him back to nine furlongs on his latest start at Goodwood and that has helped sharpen him up a bit with a view to stepping him up in class.”  

Red Galileo (Saeed bin Suroor/Pat Cosgrave), successful in a Meydan handicap at the start of the year, lines up in the 12-furlong Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap alongside Rare Rhythm (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who makes his first start since finishing eighth in the race 12 months ago. 

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Red Galileo won over a mile and six furlongs out in Dubai but I think that a stiff 12 furlongs will suit him. He is in good form and ready to go.”

Charlie Appleby added: “Rare Rhythm has been gelded since he ran here last year and has been pleasing us at home. He looks fit enough although the quick conditions would be a slight concern as both his wins have come with ease in the ground. 

“He has been training well and a mile and a half will suit.”