Golden Horde Shines in Commonwealth Cup

ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – AlMohamediya Racing’s Golden Horde was a shining example of brilliance on Friday, leading nearly every step of the way to capture the Commonwealth Cup (G1) on Day 4 of the 2020 Royal Ascot Meet.

Sent from the barriers at 5/1 odds stateside under Adam Kirby, Golden Horde took lead of a group running closer to the nearside rail as the field of 3-year-olds split in half. Mums Tipple initially set the pace from the farside cluster, though Golden Horne ranged up to take over halfway home.

Beginning to distance himself from the pack in the final furlong, Golden Horde had the American filly Kimari stuck close behind him and had to dig deep to fend her off. Though Kimari fought valiantly, Golden Horde proved too good on the day.

The Clive Cox trainee crossed 1 1/2 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:14.56 for the 6-furlong sprint over good to soft going.

“He jumped away, travelled good,” Kirby said. “He has a very high cruising speed. … He is very quick, but he is very strong over 6 (furlongs) and I don’t think there’s any reason to change. He is quite a special horse.”

Ventura Rebel nipped Royal Commando by a head for third, Millisle was fifth by a head over Royal Crusade, and Southern Hills nosed out Pistoletto and Royal Lytham for seventh.

Shadn, Lope Y Fernandez, Dubai Station, Les Hogues, Aberama Gold, Mums Tipple, and Pierre Lapin (the 9/5 stateside favorite) completed the order of finish. Wooded was a non-runner.

The feature race of the day goes to Adam Kirby and Clive Cox 🏆

Golden Horde sprints home to land the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup!#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/OhcVhyxpjJ

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2020

Golden Horde’s win came in his 2020 debut and improved upon his fifth-place effort in last year’s Coventry Stakes (G2). The Lethal Force colt improved his record to 7-3-1-1.

“When we took the rugs off him today, I was delighted with what I saw and I am pleased the performance has backed that up,” Cox said. “The great thing about Lethal Force was he kept progressing with age. He was a better 4-year-old than he was 3-year-old. There is always that hope when you know they’ve got that ability and the size and stature to carry it out.”

Golden Horde returned $14 to win and $4.20 to place, Kimari brought back $4.20 to place, and Ventura Rebel paid $31.80 to place.