Commonwealth Cup
 QuinnBet
Group 1, Ascot 15:40
£500,000 added,
3yo,
6f, Class 1   
Friday 22nd June 2018

Quinnbet

1 Eqtidaar 12/1
2 Sands Of Mali 15/2
3 Emblazoned 12/1
4 Stone Of Destiny 50/1
22 ran Distances: ½l, 1l, hd
Time: 1m 12.12s (fast by 0.28s)

Eqtidaar, under Jim Crowley, wins the Commonwealth Cup

Eqtidaar
© Racehorse Photos
Eqtidaar
 
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation landed its second G1 Commonwealth Cup since the race's inception in 2015, when Eqtidaar won the latest edition for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
 
Eqtidaar followed in the hoofprints of Shadwell's Muhaarar, who stepped up from his Royal Ascot victory in 2015 to become champion sprinter, unbeaten in a further three Group One contests, and now regarded as a very promising young sire at the Sheikh's Shadwell Stud in Norfolk. His first crop will appear as two-year-olds in 2019.
 
A home-bred, by the stallion Invincible Spirit, Eqtidaar has some way to go to match Muhaarar's feats, but he is on his way following victory over his 21 rivals in today's sprint. A 12/1 shot, ridden by Jim Crowley, he beat Sands Of Mali and Emblazoned by half a length and one length.
 
Sir Michael was not shocked by the victory, although Eqtidaar had not won on his three previous starts, following a winning debut as a two-year-old.
 
The trainer said: "We have always liked this horse. I thought things just didn't go quite right for him the first time he ran here in the Pavilion Stakes. Then at Newbury last time, he was on the wrong side of the track and at halfway was too far out of his ground.
 
"He worked very well the other weekend under Jim Crowley, so we were hopeful. 
 
"He just showed how talented [a sprinter] he is. We have had some good ones like Marwell, Ajdal, and Green Desert. He is progressing nicely."
 
Eqtidaar was given a quote of 16/1 for the G1 Darley July Cup, but Sir Michael said he would have to discuss options with the Sheikh before making a plan for the colt.

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Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
£500,000 added, 3yo only, 6f, Class 1
22 ran
Going: Good to Firm

Pos Dr D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (3) Eqtidaar (IRE) 12/1 Jim Crowley
9-3		 Sir Michael Stoute 3
2nd (22) ½ Sands Of Mali (FR) 15/2 P Hanagan
9-3		 R A Fahey 3
3rd (11) 1 Emblazoned (IRE) 12/1 L Dettori
9-3		 J H M Gosden 3
4th (10) hd Stone Of Destiny 50/1 Oisin Murphy
9-3		 A M Balding 3
5th (1) hd Hey Jonesy (IRE) 40/1 Kevin Stott
9-3		 K A Ryan 3
6th (17) ½ Gidu (IRE) 40/1 John Velazquez
9-3		 Todd Pletcher 3
7th (8) s.h Heartache 28/1 A Kirby
9-0		 C G Cox 3
8th (18) hd Fighting Irish (IRE) 100/1 I Mendizabal
9-3		 H J L Dunlop 3
9th (16) 1¼ Invincible Army (IRE) 9/2 James Doyle
9-3		 J Tate 3
10th (19) ½ Unfortunately (IRE) 50/1 Tony Piccone
9-3		 K R Burke 3
11th (21) hd Roussel (IRE) 25/1 W Buick
9-3		 C Appleby 3
12th (2) 1¾ Equilateral 6/1 James McDonald
9-3		 C Hills 3
13th (7) nk Cardsharp 25/1 S De Sousa
9-3		 M Johnston 3
14th (13) nk Speak In Colours 25/1 D O'Brien
9-3		 Joseph P O'Brien 3
15th (20) 1¼ Fleet Review (USA) 16/1 W M Lordan
9-3		 A P O'Brien 3
16th (15) hd Sioux Nation (USA) 11/4f R L Moore
9-3		 A P O'Brien 3
17th (5) ¾ Actress (IRE) 40/1 J A Heffernan
9-0		 A P O'Brien 3
18th (4) 1¼ Laugh A Minute 33/1 Andrea Atzeni
9-3		 R Varian 3
19th (6) ½ Main Desire (IRE) 20/1 D Tudhope
9-0		 M L W Bell 3
20th (12) ¾ Enjazaat 80/1 Dane O'Neill
9-3		 Owen Burrows 3
21st (9) ½ Now You're Talking (IRE) 50/1 J P Spencer
9-0		 Joseph P O'Brien 3
22nd (14) ¾ Abel Handy (IRE) 100/1 T Eaves
9-3		 D Carroll 3

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COMMONWEALTH CUP WINNERS

YR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2017 1 CARAVAGGIO Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith 3-9-03 5/6F
2016 1 QUIET REFLECTION Karl Burke Dougie Costello Ontoawinner, Strecker & Burke 3-9-00 7/4F
2015 1 MUHAARAR Charlie Hills Dane O’Neill Hamdan Al Maktoum 3-9-03 10/1

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