Advertise Rebounds Strongly in Commonwealth Cup

ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ Advertise added blinkers with great success, rebounding strongly from a dull 2019 debut performance to win the Commonwealth Cup (G1) on Day 4 of the Royal Ascot meet.

Breaking from the barriers under Frankie Dettori at 7/1 stateside odds, Advertise sat off while the field’s two fillies, Forever In Dreams and Royal Intervention, set the early pace. Halfway through the 6-furlong sprint, Dettori tipped Advertise out from behind Konchek and into the clear.

Put to task with 2 furlongs remaining, Advertise swept past Forever In Dreams and kicked clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:11.90.

“I was always in control and traveled like the winner,” Dettori said. “When I kicked, he went, and it was brilliant. He is back to his best. Advertise always relaxed in his races for me and he has gone a little the other way; that is why he has got blinkers, just to keep him focused. He was a very good 2-year-old and I am pleased for all the connections.”

Forever In Dreams held onto second by a head over Hello Youmzain. The rest of the field crossed thusly: Ten Sovereigns (the 3/5 stateside favorite), Royal Intervention, Jash, Khaadem, Konchek, and Rumble Inthejungle.

Advertise’s win was a return to form after finishing a dull 15th in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket on May 4. The 3-year-old son of Showcasing improved his record to 7-4-2-0.

“He was pretty special over 6 furlongs last year, but the problem was I had trained him to run the mile, and getting him switched off, we thought, ‘How do we jazz him up again?'” Meade said. “So (we thought) maybe put the blinds on, just so he knows he has to sprint. Luckily, it did the job, as he jumped and went. Clearly, that demonstrates that this is his distance. If we can step him up a bit, then clearly, we will.”

Advertise returned $17.40 to win and $4.40 to place, Forever In Dreams brought back $8.60 to place, and Hello Youmzain paid $3.80 to place.