Caravaggio came out on top in a thrilling battle for the Commonwealth Cup on day four at Royal Ascot. Check out our race report, reaction from connections and free video replay.
1540 Royal Ascot - Commonwealth Cup result
1st Caravaggio 5/6 favourite
2nd Harry Angel 11/4
3rd Blue Point 9/2
Click here for the free video replay
Report
Caravaggio came out on top in a thrilling three-way battle for the Group One Commonwealth Cup.
The odds-on favourite, unbeaten in his first five starts for trainer Aidan O'Brien, reared significantly a second or two before the stalls opened and his restlessness may have resulted in him ending up racing a little further back in the 12-runner field than jockey Ryan Moore may have ideally preferred.
Caravaggio's stablemate Intelligence Cross took them along but he was soon brushed aside as second-favourite Harry Angel cruised to the front, tracked closely by fellow Godolphin representative Blue Point.
The pair moved on with a couple of furlongs to travel and Moore got to work on Caravaggio, who picked up stylishly to close the gap on the leaders and then forge ahead towards the far rail in the closing stages.
Harry Angel battled bravely to hold on to second under Adam Kirby, in doing so reversing recent Ascot form with the William Buick-ridden Blue Point, but the classy grey Caravaggio was well on top at the line and passed the post three quarters of a length in front.
The big trio pulled nicely clear of American challenger Bound For Nowhere.
Reaction
Aidan O'Brien: "He's obviously a brilliant horse. It was only his second run back and we've been 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.
"Ryan was very confident in him, he said he was just going to pop him out and let it happen and that's exactly what he did, he said he'd come there very late and that's exactly what he did.
"He's very quick - I don't think we've ever had a quicker horse. It was a big step up from his first run at Naas. We knew it was against three-year-olds today but it will be older horses next time.
"I'd imagine the July Cup is what the lads would be thinking of."
When asked if he could drop back to five furlongs at some stage, O'Brien quipped: "He could drop down to three!"
Ryan Moore: "I think that was a proper race, he's beaten two very good horses there. There's quite a head wind and it's hard to make up ground in it today and yesterday. They made him work but he was going away at the end. They were very good horses in front of me and they weren't stopping.
"I think that was a very good performance as he's beaten two very good horses. He's a good colt. I ride Limato on Saturday so we'll see how he matches up to the older ones, but that was a very good race."
Coolmore supremo John Magnier said "Any winner here always means something. We were unlucky to lose Scat Daddy (sire) a few years ago and I think that is his fourth winner this week so hopefully this fellow will take his place. Aidan has always said he's one of the quickest he's ever had and he's still unbeaten.
"He's a better racehorse than Scat Daddy and it is a cross that we need, it's fortunate for us he's come at the right time."
O'Brien also added Caravaggio could be on his travels later in the year: "I'm sure the July Cup will be on the agenda, but we won't race him too much because the new Everest race in Australia has been mentioned."
Clive Cox said of Harry Angel: "It was a great horse race. He wore his heart on his sleeve a little bit going out in front, but when you take the blindfold off they jump that quick and there's nothing you can do about it.
"Adam (Kirby) gave him a great ride and it was a very special race.
"It was close. The winner had to work to get us, so I don't think there's any doubt after finishing second in a Group One it will take long for him to take his Group One somewhere. We'll just see how he comes out of this before we plan where to go next."
Charlie Appleby said: "I think we're all singing from the same hymn sheet by saying we're not going to see a sprint like that for a long time. William (Buick) got off and said it was a great race to ride in. They've gone quick and they've all kept finding.
"The winner has no chinks in his armour. He came off the bridle before we did and just found all the way to the line.
"We'll let the dust settle and we'll have to try, for all the first three horses' sakes, to keep them apart. Caravaggio is obviously a Group One winner and you'd like the second and third to win Group Ones by staying out of his way, or get 100 per cent of them there for the next Group One and hope someone is a bit under par.
"I'm delighted we're here, the horse was in the best condition I could get him in and he ran a spectacular race. Congratulations to the people who put this race on. It's been great to be part of it."
Wesley Ward, said of the fourth horse, Bound For Nowhere: "He's run a very nice race. It was only his third start and we're very excited about him. He's going to win a big one and we're going down that route."
