Shadow Of Light to shine again
ASCOT Shadow Of Light will face 21 rivals as he bids to get back to winning ways in the £725,750 (S$1.25 million) Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (1,200m) for three-year-olds at Royal Ascot on June 20.
A unique winner of the Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last season, which saw him crowned champion two-year-old, Shadow Of Light returned to action this season by finishing third behind stablemate Ruling Court and St James's Palace Stakes hero Field Of Gold in the Group 1 2000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket on May 3.
After quickening up nicely, the son of Lope De Vega faded in the closing stages on his first start over a mile, leaving connections to opt to drop him back to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup.
Charlie Appleby's colt is a 7-4 chance to claim further Group 1 honours, with the Ger Lyons-trained Babouche, who landed the Group 3 Lacken Stakes (1,200m) at Naas last time, the main danger according to the market.
Appleby would be keen for a change of luck as it has been three years since he cracked open the champagne at Royal Ascot. Godolphin's main trainer could barely hide his disappointment after favourite Cinderella's Dream finished second to Crimson Advocate in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (1,600m) on June 18.
Joining Babouche in the colours of Juddmonte will be Andrew Balding's Jonquil. The colt is another son of Lope De Vega dropping back to 1,200m on the back of finishing runner-up in the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas (1,600m) last time. Balding will also saddle the improving Berkshire Whisper.
Aidan O'Brien is dual-handed thanks to last year's Group 1 Prix Morny (1,200m) scorer Whistlejacket and Ides Of March, while the Michael Appleby-trained Big Mojo also takes his chances.
Arabian Dusk and Soldier's Heart both go for Simon and Ed Crisford, with Rayevka and Shisospicy, who represent France and America respectively, adding further international spice.
Later on the card, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Zarigana heads 11 declarations for the £725,750 Group 1 Coronation Stakes (1,600m).
Carrying the colours of his late Highness Aga Khan, the daughter of Siyouni took her record to four from five with a dramatic victory in the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas (1,600m) at ParisLongchamp on May 11.
Challengers are aplenty, with Owen Burrows' impressive Listed Pretty Polly Stakes (2,000m) winner Falakeyah defending her unbeaten record for Shadwell, while Kon Tiki will also put her perfect status on the line having been supplemented by Jane Chapple-Hyam on the back of a commanding win in the Listed Sky Bet Fillies' Stakes (1,600m) at York.
O'Brien's pair Exactly and January also take their chances, while the Ollie Sangster-trained duo of Flight and Simmering, who finished second and third to Desert Flower in the Group 1 1000 Guineas (1,600m) respectively on May 4, add further depth. RACING AND SPORTS
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