Art Form

When Royal Ascot comes around, Aidan O'Brien's team Ballydoyle are there with unflinching determination and whatever they do down there in Co. Tipperary, it just continues to pay dividends on the grand stages. On Friday, the collective attention is turned towards Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) as he bids to live up to his favourite's billing in a hot renewal of the G1 Commonwealth Cup. This initiative took a long time to come to fruition and in its absence last year's G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Coventry S. winner would have gone to Deauville for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains with no other race open available until the July Cup. Had this race existed from the 1980s, it would have given the likes of Green Desert, Ajdal, Stravinsky and Mozart (Ire), among others, an alternative to stretching their stamina to breaking point in the mile Classics. O'Brien refused to go in that direction and Caravaggio's return success in the G3 Lacken S. at Naas on May 21 provided ample justification for his stance. “We always thought he was a brilliantly fast horse and we just did not risk losing that brilliance by trying to extend him over too far, even though he never showed us that he wouldn't get further than sprint distances,” the master of Ballydoyle explained. “It's a great race to have now. When you have a brilliantly fast 2-year-old, it gives you an option. We were very happy with him at Naas and everything has gone smooth since. He's a very classy horse with a good temperament. He's very relaxed. It's a competitive race and we are looking forward to our horse running.”

Clive Cox's confidence was boosted on Wednesday by the slick performance of Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the Queen Mary and he has never made any secret of his regard for Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Last year's G2 Mill Reef S. winner was 1 1/2-lengths second to Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) trying to give him four pounds in the G3 Pavilion S. over this course and distance on May 3, where Wednesday's G3 Jersey S. third Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) and the re-opposing Tis Marvellous (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Yalta (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) were further behind. Next time, the world were able to see what his stable had when Harry Angel demolished a smart field including Mubtasim again in the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock and Godolphin's renowned purchasing power was exercised again. “Despite his lack of experience, I am upbeat about his chances,” Cox commented. “He is really growing in confidence. I'm thrilled with the feeling he is giving us since he broke the track record in the Sandy Lane S. at Haydock on his last start. I honestly think Harry Angel is very good. I've always had a lot of confidence in his ability and he's still not the finished article. He's shown a lot of greenness in his behaviour in the stalls. But I think we've got a serious performer.”

'TDN Rising Star' Blue Point, who captured the G2 Gimcrack S. and finished runner-up in the G1 Middle Park S. also over this trip last term, could yet have more to offer and he needs to keep up with the fast-progressing Harry Angel. Charlie Appleby is hoping he can confirm the Pavilion form on level terms and said, “We have been very happy with Blue Point since he won the Pavilion S. and have been looking forward to this race. His preparation has been great and he has conditions to suit. He holds the track record and it should be a good burn-up.”

Wesley Ward's 3-year-olds have a 100% record so far at the meeting and his unbeaten Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) is impossible to rule out. Successful by six lengths over six furlongs at Turfway Park on Jan. 26 and by 4 1/4 lengths over 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland on Apr. 20, he lacks the conditioning of the European favourites but his trainer is bullish. “He's immensely talented,” he said. “He's a big colt, so I gave him plenty of time. I paid quite a bit for him, so I wanted to do everything right. I matched him with Lady Aurelia prior to her race this year and he was a bit unseasoned, having had just one run at a small track. She was much better in every way. He ran shortly after she did and, after the experience of that race, he started to prove to me that he was a very valid foe in every work. In one of the works, he was better. Having seen the talent he has, I think he has a big chance.”