View From the Pavilion

Now that the inaugural G1 Commonwealth Cup is looming on the horizon, it is time for the 3-year-old sprinters to show their hands in the newly promoted G3 Pavilion S. on Wednesday’s Ascot card. Designed to offer a clear path to the Royal meeting along with next month’s G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock, the six-furlong contest features arguably the most exciting member of his category in the unbeaten Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}). Unsurprisingly, Paul Jacobs’ gelding is in the hands of veteran trainer Henry Candy, so accomplished with runners of this type as the careers of Kyllachy (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}) and Markab (GB) (Green Desert) and countless others testify. So impressive in Newbury’s Listed Rose Bowl S. in July and the Listed Redcar 2-Year-Old Trophy in Redcar, the bay was near the top of the juvenile tree in the end-of-year classifications and his conditioner is hoping he can go on at three. “I think he’s just got very relaxed,” he told PA Sport. “He’s not quite as brilliant on the gallops as he was last year, but what you hope is that he’s just maturing. Hopefully they don’t get too much rain, as he doesn’t want it soft. This is basically a trial for the new Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and all being well, that is where he’ll be going.” One with sprinting blueblood in her veins is Khalid Abdullah’s Tendu (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a full-sister to Showcasing (GB) who scored by five lengths over this trip at Kempton in early September before finishing a respectable fifth in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket later that month. Racing under a penalty is the returning Beacon (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s fortunate winner of the G2 Flying Childers S. over five furlongs at Doncaster in September. Handed that race by the late misdemeanor of Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), the Hannon trainee is nevertheless a smart runner in his own right having also won Sandown’s Listed National S. in July. “He was a decent 2-year-old, his only disappointment coming in the [G2] Gimcrack [S.], but he would not have won at five that day so we don’t think returning to six is a problem,” commented his conditioner, who also saddles the G3 Sirenia S. winner Burnt Sugar (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). “Burnt Sugar is fit, having run three times already this year, two of them in Dubai, and this will be his first run back at six since he won the Sirenia so impressively at Kempton last year. He’ll appreciate dropping back in trip.”