Royal Ascot: Time for Sandals upsets Commonwealth Cup

Time For Sandals completed a remarkable top-level double for trainer Harry Eustace as she caused an upset under Richard Kingscote in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.

Racing alone down the middle of the track entering the final furlong, the Sands Of Mali filly showed a great attitude, staying on well to hold by a neck at odds of 27-1 in the pari-mutuel World Pool. She denied stands-side duo Arizona Blaze (32/1) and Rayevka (26/1) by a neck and a half-length.

Shisospicy (11-1), the lone American in the race, led the group on the far side but lost the lead in her group nearing the furlong mark and weakened late. The Jose D'Angelo trainee, who had won the Mamzelle (G3) at Churchill Downs in her previous start, finished 15th of 21, eight lengths behind Time for Sandals.

Shadow of Light, the 6-5 favorite in the World Pool for trainer Charlie Appleby, tracked in range but didn't have the kick to match the leaders late. He crossed the wire fifth, 3 1/2 lengths behind Time for Sandals. 

Runner-up in last season’s Lowther Stakes (G2), Time For Sandals had placed in both of her starts this year, most recently going down narrowly in a Group 3 contest at Chantilly.

Eustace has had a meeting to remember, with Docklands providing him with a first Group 1 success in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.

Eustace said, “The last race just gave us enough confidence, as the most concerning part was the draw (post 1). After Karl’s filly (Venetian Sun) came out of stall one, everyone just stayed there and we had plenty of pace. It is the first time Time For Sandals has had a fast horse to follow. We were, I don’t want to say very confident, but we just felt we hadn’t seen the best from her for one reason or another. My voice is in dire straits! 

“She always shaped up to being pretty good. At home, we felt we had excuses for her. She has never run a bad one and was always right there, but she just had not quite put it all together. We were always confident in a race like this, where there would be fast horses taking her along – that is really what she needed. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t dream we would get here, but she’s always been pretty good.

“It has been an extraordinary week, and that is all down to the team at home. I stand here and talk to you on camera, but they are the ones up in the mornings, feeding them, riding them, checking them – it’s all the little things all the way through and I can’t thank them enough. The owners are relatively new and this is the second ever horse they have had. They are pretty lucky people.”

Kingscote said, “It all went smoothly. We were a little bit alone in the last furlong, but she stuck her neck out. I think Harry was a little worried about the draw until the first winner came from one, and it helped that Oisin’s horse had plenty of speed. Wherever I’m drawn, I like to be around speed, so it worked out well for us.

“Newbury (in the Fred Darling Stakes) was a test to see where we go for the year and what sort of trip she wanted. She didn’t quite get home and, even today over the six, she travelled very strongly. In France she was left alone in front for a bit long, but we’ve learnt about her and she’s learnt about racing each run and has improved. She did a fantastic piece of work a couple of weeks ago, so I was hopeful today.

“As you know, Royal Ascot winners are hard to come by. She was up in grade, so she had to do better than what she had been doing, but she has progressed. A Royal Ascot Group 1 has always been a dream, so I am delighted. Harry is a lovely man to ride for – I am delighted for him. Two Group 1 winners at Royal Ascot is a massive achievement.”

Eustace’s father, James, who won the 1998 Royal Hunt Cup with Refuse To Lose, said, “It is like magic, like a dream; it has been absolutely superb. It is so wonderful because the Queen Anne was a marker. The two boys (Harry and David) are competitive and David obviously did really well in Australia. David has now got to emulate his uncle, who did train a Royal Ascot winner from Hong Kong, Cape Of Good Hope. So now David has got to try and emulate that and Harry has to try and win a Melbourne Cup! If we did anything, we instilled a work ethic in them – hopefully by example rather than by a long tom – but we were so lucky from day one that they loved the whole thing. They learnt an awful lot in the tack room and they both knew what they wanted to do. We tried to make Harry go to university. He went to Edinburgh for two years, enjoyed himself immensely and then dropped out, went to Australia and worked in racing and hasn’t looked back.”

Adrian Murray said of Arizona Blaze, “It was a big run. He never runs a bad race and always turns up on the day. When he came home the last time, he was a little bit flat and not himself, so he was probably a little under the weather when he ran. We put that behind us and were very confident of a good run. I couldn’t believe the price! We are most likely to go for the Nunthorpe. He is entered in the July Cup, as well, but probably the Nunthorpe.”

Rayevka’s trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said, “This is a filly we needed to switch off. We have no choice and she is still learning how to race. Unfortunately, we didn’t have one to take her a little bit further in to the race, but she picked up very nicely and it is a very good performance to be third. I always liked her. I took her to the Cheveley Park last season because I always thought she was a talented filly, but mentally she was not ready. We decided to change tactics completely in her last run and see what she could do, and she was very convincing that day. She is entered in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and will definitely stay at this sort of trip. She might be able to do seven furlongs but she will have to switch off.”