15:05 Ascot 19 Jun 2026
Commonwealth Cup
Group 1 | Class 1 | 3YO only
Winner £396,970 - 22 ran
raced centre, travelled well, in touch with leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, soon edged right, pressed by runner up inside final furlong, just held on
wore hood to post, raced centre, mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, ran on well, just held post
restrained start, raced centre, took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway and switched left over 1f out, ran on well final furlong
raced centre, in touch with leaders, switched left over 1f out, ridden 1f out, kept on final furlong
wore hood to post, raced centre, led overall, headed after 1f, led again over 2f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, headed 1f out, no extra final 110yds
wore hood to post, raced centre, midfield, ridden and edged left over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
raced centre, chased leaders, ridden when hung left over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
raced near side, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led group inside final furlong, no chance with centre
wore hood to post, raced centre, held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, no threat to leaders
raced near side, close up, ridden 2f out, led group over 1f out, headed in group inside final furlong, soon no extra
wore hood to post, raced centre, in touch with leaders, switched right 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong
wore hood to post, raced near side, midfield, headway when short of room over 1f out, no extra final furlong
wore hood to post, raced near side, held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, weakened final furlong
raced centre, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
raced near side, led group, ridden and edged left 2f out, headed in group over 1f out, weakening when hung right inside final furlong
raced near side, in touch with leaders, ridden when hung left 2f out, faded over 1f out
wore hood to post, raced centre, never better than mid-division
raced centre, took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden when carried left over 1f out, soon faded
raced centre, switched left and towards rear of near side group after 1f, ridden over 2f out,
wore hood to post, raced centre, close up, led after 1f, pressed over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakening when badly hampered over 1f out
short of room briefly start, raced centre, towards rear, ridden and hung left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
wore hood to post, raced near side, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, eased 1f out, vet reported colt lost his left-fore shoe
Expert Analysis
The first big sprint for the Classic generation saw one of last season’s star juveniles, Venetian Sun, enjoy another Group 1 success. The winner wasn’t as good here as she was on softer conditions at Haydock prior, but she produced enough to hold off Spicy Marg, by a “cosy” head. The field raced largely up the centre of the track, with a good early pace and a finishing speed percentage for the final two furlongs of 99.57%. Interestingly, four of the first five home were fillies.
VENETIAN SUN may not have been in love with the conditions, but still emerged victorious here, winning her second Group 1. She always travelled well, nearer the pace than at Haydock, but ultimately raced quite efficiently with sectionals close enough to par. She possibly hit the front earlier than ideal and softer ground may see her produce a better level, but she was always doing enough.
SPICY MARG produced a big effort in defeat, stepping forward significantly from her previous best. She closed the gap on Venetian Sun from Haydock, perhaps helped by the winner lowering her level slightly, but this was certainly an improvement from the daughter of Starspangledbanner.
DIVISION is a horse I have a soft spot for, and he did well from his low draw here. Held up much longer here than at Haydock, he was seen to better effect coming late off a strong pace. He never really looked like getting to the front pair but hit the line hardest of all to get within three-quarters of a length.
HAVANA ANNA travelled really strongly, possibly even better than the winner, but didn’t find near as much off the bridle when asked for effort. The stiff finish at the end of a truly run six furlongs found her out, and her final split showed signs of tiredness. I think she could possibly benefit from dropping back to the minimum, or at least an easier six furlongs.
FITZELLA produced her best effort this season here, shaping better than the result too as she went hard in front (as she tends to). She got tired in the final furlong but that is understandable considering her early pace.
SAMANGAN tracked the winner through the race but couldn’t go with her as the race developed and faded in the final furlong or so.
SONG OF THE CLYDE was prominent early and looked to be laying down a challenge in the penultimate furlong but couldn’t sustain his effort into the final furlong.COPPULL won his race on the stands side and while that would have been good enough overall for most of the week, he was no match for the centre group here.
NORTHERN CHAMPION outran his odds, coming from a long way back on the far side of the centre group, and staying on late to finish a respectable ninth.
OUTFIELDER was on the pace near side, but they were always behind the centre group and he was never in contention for outright honours.
KIMI REY challenged on the far side of the centre group in the penultimate furlong and was in the mix hitting the furlong marker but weakened from that point home.
ASPECT ISLAND raced near side too. He was ever so briefly short of room outside the furlong pole but got tired soon after.
MIDNIGHT TANGO was held up in rear on the near side and never got involved.
ALBERT EINSTEIN continues to disappoint, and this was no better than previous efforts this season.
ROCK ON THUNDER led the near side group early but hung right and weakened from over a furlong out.
CHARLES DARWIN raced near side in first-time blinkers and while he travelled reasonably to a point, he never landed a blow.
ZANTHOS never got involved to any real extent up the centre.
HAVANA HURRICANE was very keen early on and paid the price later in the contest.
BRUSSELS raced near side and was one of the first horses beaten having been under pressure from halfway.
MY CALYX CEN was hampered badly over a furlong out but was weakening at the time.
SUPER SOLDIER was always towards the rear.
WISE APPROACH raced on the near side but was beaten before the race even developed.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 15:05 Ascot 19th Jun 2026 -
Post-Race Reaction: 24th Jun 2026 -
Post-Race Reaction: 19th Jun 2026 -
Post-Race Reaction: 19th Jun 2026 -
Post-Race Reaction: 19th Jun 2026 -
Post-Race Reaction: 19th Jun 2026
Future Form
| Type | Stats | Type | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 39 runs, 3 wins (3 horses), 3 placed, 33 unplaced | Next time out | 20 runs, 1 win, 2 placed, 17 unplaced |
| Class analysis | 0 runs up in class, 0 wins, 0 placed, 0 unplaced | Ratings check | Highest winning OR: 114; Highest placed OR: 115 |
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £113.40 (21, 20) |
| Tricast | £498.96 (21, 20, 6) |
| Win | £2.38 (21) |
| Place | £1.20 (21), £8.60 (20), £2.85 (6), £4.55 (17) |
| Swinger | £58.70 (6, 20), £7.00 (6, 21), £23.15 (20, 21) |
| Exacta | £98.10 (21, 20) |
| Trifecta | £872.90 (21, 20, 6) |
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good to Firm | 21 | Time For Sandals | 1 | 3 | 8 13 | - | 132-32 | 35 days | Harry Eustace (100 miles) | Richard Kingscote | 25/ 1 | 1:12.30 |
| 2024 | Good to Firm | 14 | Inisherin | 1 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 2-161 | 27 days | K A Ryan (240 miles) | Tom Eaves | 9/ 4 | 1:12.51 |
| 2023 | Good to Firm | 13 | Shaquille | 4 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 1911-11 | 34 days | Miss J A Camacho (227 miles) | Oisin Murphy | 9/ 1 | 1:13.15 |
| 2022 | Good to Firm | 20 | Perfect Power | 1 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 1511-17 | 48 days | R A Fahey (227 miles) | Christophe Soumillon | 7/ 2 | 1:12.85 |
| 2021 | Heavy | 15 | Dragon Symbol | 18 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 11112 | 27 days | A Watson (28 miles) | Oisin Murphy | 4/ 1 | 1:16.67 |
| 2020 | Good to Soft | 16 | Golden Horde | 10 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 415132 | 265 days | C G Cox (42 miles) | Adam Kirby | 5/ 1 | 1:14.56 |
| 2019 | Good to Soft | 9 | Advertise | 4 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 12112-0 | 48 days | M Meade (54 miles) | Frankie Dettori | 8/ 1 | 1:11.88 |
| 2018 | Good to Firm | 22 | Eqtidaar | 3 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 14-24 | 34 days | Sir Michael Stoute (100 miles) | Jim Crowley | 12/ 1 | 1:12.12 |
| 2017 | Good to Firm | 12 | Caravaggio | 5 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 1111-1 | 33 days | A P O'Brien (399 miles) | Ryan Moore | 5/ 6 | 1:13.49 |
| 2016 | Good to Soft | 10 | Quiet Reflection | 8 | 3 | 9 0 | - | 1511-11 | 20 days | K R Burke (252 miles) | Dougie Costello | 7/ 4 | 1:14.50 |
| 2015 | Good to Firm | 18 | Muhaarar | 8 | 3 | 9 3 | - | 3313-18 | 40 days | C Hills (27 miles) | Dane O'Neill | 10/ 1 | 1:12.05 |