Commonwealth Cup
 QuinnBet
Group 1, Ascot 15:05
£650,000 guaranteed,
3yo,
6f, Class 1   
Friday 20th June 2025

1 Time For Sandals 25/1
2 Arizona Blaze 28/1
3 Rayevka 20/1
21 ran NR: Leovanni Distances: nk, ½l, ½l
Time: 1m 12.03s (fast by 0.47s)

If Docklands gave Harry Eustace lift-off, then Time For Sandals provided full flight.

On just her third start of the year and still a maiden at Group level, the 25/1 shot threw the script out the window, charging home down the centre of the track under a perfectly-judged Richard Kingscote ride to land a shock Group 1 success – the second of the week for the quietly-rising Eustace yard.

For those watching closely, this wasn’t quite the thunderbolt from nowhere the betting might suggest. Placed in both her runs this season and second in last year’s Lowther, Time For Sandals had been knocking on the door – she just hadn’t quite found the right key. But on the biggest of stages, with the draw gods smiling and pace to follow, she unlocked it in style.

As the field split and most opted for the stands’ side, Kingscote stuck to his guns down the centre. With the willing Sands Of Mali  filly pricking her ears and responding for pressure, she fended off a late lunge from the game Arizona Blaze, with Rayevka also finishing well in third. The margins – a neck and half a length – hardly did justice to the drama.

Kingscote, cool as you like, summed it up with characteristic calm:

“She stuck her neck out when it mattered. We ended up a bit lonely late on, but she’s learning all the time. She’s come on plenty this year. I always like to follow speed – and Oisin’s mount gave us a nice lead.”

The story, though, belongs to the trainer. Having broken his Group 1 duck on Tuesday with Docklands in the Queen Anne, Harry Eustace now finds himself in rare air – two Group 1s in four days at Royal Ascot. Not bad for a man who almost ended up finishing an arts degree.

With a voice shredded by celebrations and disbelief, Eustace said:

“It’s just surreal. We were hopeful – not confident – but we knew we hadn’t seen her best yet. She’s never run a bad race. I was worried about the draw in one, but once Karl’s filly ran well from there, we just held our ground and got the lead we needed.”

And it’s been a family affair all week. Harry’s father, James – who took the Hunt Cup back in ’98 – was on hand to watch the scenes unfold.

“It’s dreamland. The boys have always worked hard – we tried to get Harry to finish uni, but racing got him in the end. Now we’ve got David doing great things down under, and Harry here at Ascot with two Group 1s. I just hope they’re not too competitive about it…”

Runner-up Arizona Blaze lost little in defeat, with Adrian Murray rightly proud:

“He’s as tough as they come. He wasn’t himself last time but he’s bounced back. We’ll look at the Nunthorpe – he’s earned his shot.”

And Rayevka, the French-trained filly with a big future, again shaped well. Francis-Henri Graffard noted:

“She’s still learning, but that was much better. She needs cover, and didn’t quite get it, but she’s classy. The Maurice de Gheest is the plan.”

But the headlines belonged to Time For Sandals – an unflashy name, a monster performance. For Eustace, it’s a week he’ll never forget. For Kingscote, another jewel in the crown. And for the owners – on only their second horse – a memory of a lifetime.

As for the rest of us? Just another reminder that at Royal Ascot, dreams can wear sandals.

Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
£650,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 6f, Class 1
21 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Time For Sandals 3 8-13 Harry Eustace Richard Kingscote 25/1
2 (20) nk Arizona Blaze 3 9-2 Adrian Murray David Egan 28/1
3 (10) ½ Rayevka 3 8-13 F-H Graffard Mickael Barzalona 20/1
4 (7) ½ Sayidah Dariyan 3 8-13 Richard Hughes Billy Loughnane 66/1
5 (19) 2¼ Shadow Of Light 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 6/4F
6 (11) 1¼ Whistlejacket 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 12/1
7 (12) nk Big Mojo 3 9-2 Michael Appleby Hollie Doyle 14/1
8 (6) nse Sky Majesty 3 8-13 William Haggas Tom Marquand 33/1
9 (5) nk Ain't Nobody 3 9-2 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 50/1
10 (14) 1¾ Arabie 3 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 200/1
11 (9) shd Strong Warrior 3 9-2 Richard Fahey Oisin Orr 80/1
12 (4) nk Arabian Dusk 3 8-13 Simon & Ed Crisford Harry Davies 50/1
13 (15) shd Jonquil 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Christophe Soumillon 9/2
14 (13) nk Berkshire Whisper 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Kieran Shoemark 100/1
15 (2) nse Shisospicy 3 8-13 Jose Francisco D'Angelo Oisin Murphy 10/1
16 (22) 2¾ Ides Of March 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan16/1
17 (16) nk Carla Ridge 3 8-13 Eddie & Patrick Harty Chris Hayes 125/1
18 (17) nk Lady With The Lamp 3 8-13 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 33/1
19 (8) ½ Soldier's Heart 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford Callum Shepherd 150/1
20 (18) nse Babouche 3 8-13 G M Lyons Colin Keane 13/2
21 (3) 4 Diablo Rojo 3 9-2 Raphael E Freire Rossa Ryan 50/1
NR 17 (21) Leovanni 3 8-13 K R Burke NON RUNNER

SureWIn

COMMONWEALTH CUP WINNERS

YR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2024 1 INISHERIN Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 3-9-02 9/4F
2023 1 SHAQUILLE Julie Camacho Oisin Murphy Hughes, Rawlings, O'Shaughnessy 3 9-02 9/1
2022 1 PERFECT POWER Richard Fahey Christophe Soumillon Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum 3 9-02 7/2J
2021 1 DRAGON SYMBOL Archie Watson Oisin Murphy Yoshiro Kubota 3 9-00 4/1
2020 1 GOLDEN HORDE Clive Cox Adam Kirby AlMohamediya Racing 3-9-00 5/1
2019 1 ADVERTISE Martyn Meade Frankie Dettori Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited 3-9-03 8/1
2018 1 EQTIDAAR Sir Michael Stoute Jim Crowley Hamdan Al Maktoum 3-9-03 12/1
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

RacingBetter @ Royal Ascot