Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes

Group 3, Ascot 14:50
£80,000 guaranteed,
3yo, 6f, Class 1    
Wednesday 1st May 2024

QuinnBet

1 Jasour 9/1
2 Adaay In Devon 16/5F
3 Purosangue 9/2
10 ran NR: Malc Distances: 1¾l, 1½l, nk
Time: 1m 14.80s (slow by 2.50s)

Jasour demonstrated an impressive burst of speed to secure victory for trainer Clive Cox.

The Havana Grey colt maintained a composed position at the back of the field before accelerating through a gap with just over a furlong remaining.

Jasour joined Purosangue at the front, leaving Adaay In Devon to challenge on the inside rail. Jockey Jim Crowley urged his three-year-old to shift into another gear, resulting in a dominant performance.

Jasour crossed the finish line with a one-and-three-quarter-length lead over Adaay In Devon.

Following this impressive win, Jasour’s odds were cut from 33-1 to 12-1 by Quinnbet for the Commonwealth Cup at next month’s Royal meeting.

“He was class last year in the July Stakes and then in the Prix Morny they split and he was left in the middle and he just got a bit free,” said Cox.

“I think he got a bit frightened as a juvenile and he pulled far too hard in the Middle Park. We’ve worked and we’ve worked, and he enjoyed some precious turnout time up until Christmas at home. The whole team has worked really hard to make sure we’ve kept him this way.

“I was very disappointed things hadn’t worked out (in the second half of last season), but it was quite rewarding to watch him through the winter become more confident.

“He’s an individual personality and quite his own person, but today has been so rewarding to see him do that. It’s very special.

“Jim seemed to strike a chord with him last year in the July Stakes and I’m just pleased it has all worked out today. Jim has given him a super confidence-building run back and I really feel winning is a super bonus, I wasn’t entirely sure about happening.

“I was a little bit worried the ground might be too easy for him, but that didn’t seem to be a problem and his July Stakes performance on quicker ground give us a clear feel in that respects.

“He’s just come back here with a completely different look in his eye, understanding life isn’t that difficult if he gets it the right way round.”

BetGoodwiin

Cox has tasted success in the Commonwealth Cup previously with Golden Horde striking in 2020.

Like Jasour, he was owned by Sheikh Sultan’s Al Mohamediya Racing and connections’ latest speedster could tune-up for his main summer target at Haydock on May 25 in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes.

Cox added: “The Commonwealth Cup absolutely has to be the target and we were worried about the weather today and how he would cope. After today I will sleep a lot easier and I don’t think I will be watching so many weather forecasts so many times before his next run I would say.

“Sheikh Sultan has been an absolute gentleman and fully on board with our plan to try and what we’ve been doing to try to engineer Jasour’s confidence. He wasn’t here today, but hopefully he will next time.

“Golden Horde was a completely quieter individual to deal with and I didn’t lose any sleep over him at all.

“I think going via the Sandy Lane (to the Commonwealth Cup) would be nice and I look forward to seeing him on a sounder surface.”

Free Racing Tips

Pavilion Stakes
£80,000 guaranteed, 4yo, 6f Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (9)    Jasour 3 9-3 Clive Cox Jim Crowley 9/1
2 (10) 1¾ Adaay In Devon 3 9-0 Rod Millman Silvestre De Sousa 16/5F
3 (1) 1½ Purosangue 3 9-3 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 9/2
4 (8) nk Jakajaro 3 9-3 David Marnane Luke McAteer 28/1
5 (5) 2 Rosario 3 9-3 Roger Teal Rossa Ryan 10/1
6 (7) shd Starlust 3 9-3 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 7/2
7 (6) 2½ Got To Love A Grey 3 9-0 K R Burke Pierre-Louis Jamin 10/1
8 (11) ½ Blue Prince 3 9-3 David Evans Richard Kingscote 22/1
9 (4) ½ El Bodon 3 9-3 Jane Chapple-Hyam Tom Marquand 9/1
10 (3) nk Inishfallen 3 9-3 Brian Meehan William Buick 20/1

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