Analysis: The introduction of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot has transformed the racing careers of many a three-year-old since its inception in 2015.
In previous seasons, due to a paucity of realistic top-class options, you’d occasionally have horses thrown into battle on 2000 Guineas day despite connections having serious reservations over the horse’s suitability for the mile test, only for them to lose their way as a consequence.
Now the lure of the first Classic is a fraction less strong, trainers and owners able to sensibly keep the powder dry safe in the knowledge that Royal Ascot provides a bona fide Group One summer target for their more speedily-bred colt.
There are a number of Guineas entries who could yet skip the race and focus on a more typical Ascot prep over a shorter distance, including the likes of Kevin Ryan’s Hello Youmzain and the Ed Vaughan-trained Magic J, but the two most prominent in that regard are clearly Ten Sovereigns and Jash.
One-two in the Middle Park, they were both 2-2 going into the race and neither has gone beyond six furlongs.
Ten Sovereigns’ sire No Nay Never imparts of a lot of class but the dam is by Exceed And Excel and hardly screams stamina, while Jash is a son of Kodiac out of a six furlong juvenile winner, but the dam is out of a half-sister to Hibaayed who stayed a mile and a half and won Group Ones at a mile and 10 furlongs.
Jash’s half-brother Hansian Prince won over a mile at three for Ger Lyons before moving to Hong Kong.
So on pedigree there’s arguably a chance that Jash will be better suited to the Guineas trip this year than his autumn conqueror Ten Sovereigns and with Aidan O’Brien’s horse less than half the price in the betting, and only half a length splitting them when they last met, Jash offers far more in the way of potential market value.
Analysis: It could be a baptism of fire for Mohaather as far as his Classic campaign goes as at the time of writing he’s engaged to face Too Darn Hot in the Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes at Newbury this weekend.
He’s obviously got a huge amount to find on the figures if he’s to get close to the favourite but the son of Showcasing did make significant strides between each of his three racecourse appearances at two.
He barely put a foot wrong at two, improving on a promising debut second to win a Nottingham novice and then take the Group Three formerly known as the Horris Hill when last sighted on October 28, beating John Gosden’s impressive Yarmouth scorer Azano by a length and a half.
It’s a while since Marcus Tregoning had such a promising individual on his hands and where he’s pitched next will be telling, but providing he’s made the natural progress through the winter months then he certainly looks to be going places.
He looks to have a good attitude and is already proven on quick and easy ground, two attributes which should really stand him in good stead going forward.