Crisford hoping ARABIAN DUSK can rise to Commonwealth challenge

Information provided by Racing & Sports

05/06/2025

The Simon and Ed Crisford team are looking forward to taking on the boys once more with their talented filly ARABIAN DUSK.

Following a highly profitable two-year-old campaign, which featured a classy success in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on the July Course at Newmarket before finishing third behind subsequent Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria in the 1200m Group 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile (Newmarket), Arabian Dusk has been steadily coming to the boil this season.

A promising fourth on her reappearance in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes (1400m) back on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in April, Arabian Dusk dropped back to 1200m for her next two outings, where she finished fifth in the Chelmer Fillies' Stakes (Listed) at Chelmsford before running the Charlie Appleby-trained Symbol Of Honour to within a short-head in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

The daughter of Havana Grey now looks set for a return to the top-level, with Ed Crisford happy to pitch ARABIAN DUSK back against the boys in the 1200m Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

“She ran a very very solid race at Haydock,” said Ed Crisford. “It was a shame she didn’t win to be honest; it was just heads up, heads down to the line,” “She’s come out of her race superbly well and all being well, she’ll head to the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot.

“The fillies’ program is never ideal at this time of year, so you are running against colts but she’s showing up against them and she’s a high-quality sprinter.”

Arabian Dusk is yet to make the journey to the Berkshire venue but Crisford feels the stiff 1200m straight course at Royal Ascot will be right up her street.

“It’s going to be a super hot race but if she runs to the best that she can do, then I think she’ll be right in the mix.”

Important Notice:
Information is provided by the third-party provider and it is intended to be used for reference only. The content and information have not been verified or confirmed by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and/or its affiliates (together, the “HKJC”), and will not be used for dividend payout purposes. HKJC also do not make any representation or warranty about the timeliness, reliability or accuracy of any such information. The data, articles and other information on these pages are provided on an “as is” basis for information purposes only. None of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, its affiliates or any other person involved in or related to the compilation of such information guarantees its accuracy or reliability and accepts no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any inaccuracies or omissions.

‘I'd hope he has enough speed for that’ – Jonquil to try sprinting in Commonwealth

Information provided by Racing & Sports

07/06/2025

The Simon and Ed Crisford team are looking forward to taking on the boys once more with their talented filly ARABIAN DUSK.

The Andrew Balding-trained Jonquil could drop back to 1200m for the first time in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Inaugurated in 2015, the Commonwealth Cup was intended as an opportunity for three-year-olds to try for a Group 1 sprinting prize against their own age group, before transitioning to open company later in the season – such as the July Cup at Newmarket and the Sprint Cup at Haydock. It was an initiative which was immediately rewarded. The first Commonwealth Cup victor Muhaarar was successful against the older horses in the July Cup before taking the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville and ended the season with a victory in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes. In more recent renewals, Shaquille (2023) completed the same Commonwealth Cup/July Cup double and last year’s hero Inisherin was not disgraced when fifth at Newmarket.

The Commonwealth Cup has also been a happy hunting ground for horses dropping back in trip. Inisherin had commenced his season with a disappointing run over 1600m in the 2000 Guineas before reverting to sprinting trips and 2019 hero Advertise had failed to strike in the same Classic prior to finding success over sharper tests at Group 1 level.

The Juddmonte-owned Jonquil boasts a similar profile to that inaugural winner Muhaarar, owned by fellow racing powerhouse Shadwell. Both colts were successful in the 1400m Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury, a traditional trial race for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, before taking in the French equivalent on their next start – the 1600m Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Whilst Muhaarar failed to get involved at Longchamp, Jonquil engaged in a head-to-head battle with Henri Matisse before finishing second – a career-best performance and a first attempt in Group 1 company.

Although the son of Lope De Vega holds an engagement in the 1600m Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, connections are leaning towards a first run over sprinting distances.
"Jonquil is really good since France and obviously we're hoping for Royal Ascot and he's a number of engagements there," said Balding.

"I think the most likely at this stage is dropping him back to six for the Commonwealth Cup but it's all in the mix at this stage. I'd hope he has enough speed for that."

Breeding would suggest Jonquil will have enough speed for 1200m. Dam Jovial, a daughter of Dubawi, was a three-time winner over 1200m, showing her ability as a juvenile and a three-year-old. Grand-dam Joyeuse, twice successful over 1200m in Listed company, has proved herself an important part of the Juddmonte breeding operation – producing five individual Black Type winners.

Jovial was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and Jonquil was one of the horses moved to Balding after Stoute’s retirement at the end of the 2024 season.
Balding added: "I think if Sir Michael the horses we've acquired would have done exactly the same as what they've done with us this year.

Important Notice:
Information is provided by the third-party provider and it is intended to be used for reference only. The content and information have not been verified or confirmed by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and/or its affiliates (together, the “HKJC”), and will not be used for dividend payout purposes. HKJC also do not make any representation or warranty about the timeliness, reliability or accuracy of any such information. The data, articles and other information on these pages are provided on an “as is” basis for information purposes only. None of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, its affiliates or any other person involved in or related to the compilation of such information guarantees its accuracy or reliability and accepts no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any inaccuracies or omissions.

Royal Ascot day four: confirmed runners and riders for the Coronation Stakes and Commonwealth Cup

Source: Racing Post, Andrew Dietz

18/06/2025

The Simon and Ed Crisford team are looking forward to taking on the boys once more with their talented filly ARABIAN DUSK.

Star filly Zarigana will face ten rivals as she bids to follow up her dramatic Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victory in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.

The granddaughter of the great Zarkava, who races in the colours of the late Aga Khan, was awarded the French 1,000 Guineas in the stewards' room from first-past-the-post Shes Perfect to take her record to four wins in five starts for trainer Francis Graffard, who is fresh from winning the Prix de Diane with Gezora.

The opposition is headed by supplemented pair Falakeyah, the impressive winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes and the unbeaten Kon Tiki, while Aidan O'Brien will be represented by Exactly and January.

"Zarigana has been an uneasy favourite for this race since Falakeyah was added to the field, and although the pair share favouritism, the momentum is with Falakeyah, who looks more likely to start favourite on Friday," said David Stevens.

Shadow Of Light, who finished third in the 2,000 Guineas, drops back in trip in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (3.05), for which a huge field of 22 has been declared.

The Charlie Appleby-trained colt, a two-time Group 1 winner at two having done the Middle Park-Dewhurst double, finished a length behind Field Of Gold at Newmarket and the form looks stronger again after Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes.

A strong Irish challenge is headed by Whistlejacket and Babouche, whose owners Juddmonte also send out French 2,000 Guineas runner-up Jonquil. 

Important Notice:
Information is provided by the third-party provider and it is intended to be used for reference only. The content and information have not been verified or confirmed by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and/or its affiliates (together, the “HKJC”), and will not be used for dividend payout purposes. HKJC also do not make any representation or warranty about the timeliness, reliability or accuracy of any such information. The data, articles and other information on these pages are provided on an “as is” basis for information purposes only. None of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, its affiliates or any other person involved in or related to the compilation of such information guarantees its accuracy or reliability and accepts no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any inaccuracies or omissions.