Commonwealth Cup Result: Car comes good in sprint clash

Harry Angel (11/4), trained by Clive Cox, was always travelling strongly towards the head of affairs under Adam Kirby and appeared to have his rivals on the stretch as the field entered the closing stages, with Ryan Moore just beginning to get to work on Caravaggio (6/5-on favourite) in behind.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Blue Point (9/2) was the first to deliver his challenge and looked set to be part of a 1-2 for Godolphin, but Caravaggio found another gear where it mattered most and was ultimately three quarters of a length too strong for Harry Angel, with Blue Point another half length back in third.

The victory was a third at the meeting - and a first in the Commonwealth Cup - for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

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"I'm delighted," said O'Brien. "We were treating it as a second stage race as he had a lovely race at Naas when he won last time. He was racing against three-year-olds again today and after that, we thought he would be stepping up against older horses.

"He was just ready for his next step today. The lads had it in their mind to come here and then maybe somewhere like the July Cup and then somewhere else after that. The lads have a plan in their mind that he might go to Australia for the Everest, so we have to be very conscious now if we want him to last for the autumn.

"I was very nervous today as he was just ready to come through today, so I'm delighted that it all went well. Ryan was super confident on him and put him to sleep in the race. He said he would have a look at halfway where everybody was and that is what he did. He had plenty to do at halfway behind two good horses and he only raced for two and a half-furlongs.

"He was very relaxed in himself before the race - he was very natural and there was no edge to him. He is a natural free sweater anyway, but I was surprised by how cool he was - he is a very calm horse. 

"He is very quick, I would be happier at two furlongs than six furlongs with this fella! He is the fastest horse we have ever had. He's an absolutely brilliant horse. We felt that, because it was his second run back, we were afraid to do too much because we didn't want to lose that brilliance that he has. Ryan gave him a brilliant ride and his change of pace is unbelievable. He is just an unbelievably quick horse."

"I think that was a fairly exceptional race and he beat two very good horses. There's quite a headwind and it has been hard to make up ground today and yesterday. They made him work, but he picked them up well in the end," said winning jockey Ryan Moore.

"I think it was a very good race, they are two very good colts who were leading him. Caravaggio was very good here, it is the first time he has ever been asked a serious question so he was a bit unsure when he got the message, but he's responded very well. I think there is some more improvement in him.

"I had two very good horses in front of me and they weren't stopping. It was a very good performance and these horses have a serious amount of talent. He is a very, very good colt and that was a very good race.

"He reared in the stalls before the starter let them go, but soon got into a good rhythm."

Coolmore boss John Magnier, whose wife Sue is a joint owner of Caravaggio, said: "Every time we get a winner here, it always means something. We were unlucky to lose Scat Daddy a few years ago and this horse is his fourth winner at Royal Ascot this year. Hopefully, this fellow will take his place (at stud).

"Aidan has always said that Caravaggio was one of the quickest that he ever had. He is unbeaten so far, so fingers crossed. He is a better racehorse than Scat Daddy and it is a cross that we need. It's just fortunate for us that he has come at the right time, like the cavalry."

Commonwealth Cup 2017 Full Result