Commonwealth Cup Day (21 Jun)
Commonwealth Cup
The Commonwealth Cup, a 1200m sprint for 3YOs only, is a relatively new addition to the Royal Ascot race schedule, first run in 2015.
Reference Races
Middle Park Stakes (30 Sep 2023)
- Winners or placed runners in the Middle Park, a juvenile G1 over 1200m, have won three renewals of the Commonwealth Cup since 2015.
| Date | Race (Grade) | Racecourse | Distance | Winner | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/09/2023 | Middle Park Stakes (G1) | Newmarket, Great Britain |
1200m | VANDEEK |  |
- Key Contenders
| Commonwealth Cup (S4-2) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in Middle Park Stakes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS | 4 |
Ascot Races for 2YOs
- It’s clear that most Commonwealth Cup winners need to have been precocious enough to win G1s as 2YOs, but form at Ascot itself as a juvenile is also highly desired.
- Five winners of the Commonwealth Cup have either won or placed in Royal Ascot 2YO races.
| Date | Race (Grade) | Racecourse | Distance | Winner | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/06/2023 | Norfolk Stakes (G2) | Ascot, Great Britain |
1000m | VALIANT FORCE | - |
- Key Contenders
| Commonwealth Cup (S4-2) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in Norfolk Stakes |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | MALC | 2 |
Other Reference Races
- Last year’s winner SHAQUILLE didn’t fit these trends, improving rapidly through the winter to peak at Royal Ascot.
- The prep race he won ahead of the Commonwealth Cup, the Listed Carnarvon Stakes, was won this year by the ELITE STATUS, so he is worth considering for this year’s renewal too.
| Date | Race (Grade) | Racecourse | Distance | Winner | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/05/2024 | Sandy Lane Stakes (G2) | Haydock, Great Britain |
1200m | INISHERIN | |
| 18/05/2024 | Carnarvon Stakes (Listed) | Newbury, Great Britain |
1200m | ELITE STATUS | - |
| 01/05/2024 | Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes (G3) | Ascot, Great Britain |
1200m | JASOUR | - |
- Key Contenders
| Commonwealth Cup (S4-2) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in Sandy Lane Stakes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | INISHERIN | 1 |
| 11 | ORNE | 2 |
| Commonwealth Cup (S4-2) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in Carnavon Stakes |
| 1 | ELITE STATUS | 1 |
| 9 | MALC | 4 |
| 12 | POCKLINGTON | 5 |
| Commonwealth Cup (S4-2) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes |
| 5 | JASOUR | 1 |
| 13 | STARLUST | 6 |
Coronation Stakes
Reference Races
1000 Guineas (5 May 2024)
- It’s fair to say that there is no overly dominant route taken by fillies to win the Coronation Stakes, although there are some noteworthy race trends. Of the three big European versions of the 1000 Guineas, the Newmarket edition has come out best, producing 12 of the last 21 winners, including last year’s Ascot heroine TAHIYRA.
- ELMALKA, who won the Newmarket edition, is a fascinating contender who would be favoured by the trends should she contest the Coronation Stakes.
| Date | Race (Grade) | Racecourse | Distance | Winner | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/05/2024 | 1000 Guineas (G1) | Newmarket, Great Britain |
1600m | ELMALKA | |
- Key Contenders
| Coronation Stakes (S4-3) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in 2000 Guineas |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | ELMALKA | 1 |
| 6 | PORTA FORTUNA | 2 |
| 7 | RAMATUELLE | 3 |
Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (12 May 2024)
- Don’t disregard the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches either, as that has seen seven of the last 29 Coronation Stakes winners turn up for that prize, most recently with WATCH ME in 2019, who could only manage sixth at ParisLongchamp.
| Date | Race (Grade) | Racecourse | Distance | Winner | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/05/2024 | Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1) | ParisLongchamp, France |
1600m | RIUHIYA | |
- Key Contenders
| Coronation Stakes (S4-3) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in Poule d’Essai des Pouliches |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | ROUHIYA | 1 |
Irish 1000 Guineas (26 May 2024)
- TAHIYRA placed at Newmarket ahead of winning at the Curragh last year.
- The Irish 1000 Guineas winner has followed up in this on 10 occasions in the last 37 years, which bodes well for runners coming from the Irish Classic should they line up this year.
| Date | Race (Grade) | Racecourse | Distance | Winner | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/05/2024 | Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) | Curragh, Ireland |
1600m | FALLEN ANGEL | |
- Key Contenders
| Coronation Stakes (S4-3) Horse No. | Horse Name | Finishing Position in Irish 1000 Guineas |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | OPERA SINGER | 3 |
