'He goes with a big chance' - Commonwealth Cup dream alive for Twilight Jet

Sunday: Naas

Royal Ascot Trials Day was the title of this high-class card, and the meeting might well produce a second Commonwealth Cup winner since 2017 after tough-as-nails sprinter Twilight Jet ran riot in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes.

Trainer Michael O'Callaghan has always held the three-year-old in high regard, dubbing him as "probably the best horse I've trained" after he won the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes last season, and a dominant performance here would have only bolstered that confidence.

Making his first start since finishing tenth at last year's Breeders' Cup, when beaten three and a half lengths, the son of Twilight Son defied a 191-day layoff and an imperfect preparation to make all under Leigh Roche, scoring by three lengths.

"It was impressive – and a relief as well," said O'Callaghan, whose star was cut to 12-1 or 14-1 (from around 40) for the Commonwealth Cup.

Twilight Jet: had 11 starts as a two-year-old last seasonCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"He missed six weeks in the spring – we just swam him for six weeks – and if this was three weeks ago he wouldn't have been ready. He's just come right and that makes it all the more impressive to me."

The colt will bid to emulate 2017 Lacken Stakes winner Caravaggio at Royal Ascot. O'Callaghan added: "Twilight Jet has always looked like one who could improve with time, he's a fine, big horse. He has a bit of class and has a lot of natural speed.

"He's going to improve for the run today. He took plenty of pulling up and galloped down to the third fence down the back before he got pulled up.

"I think he looks strong enough to go to the Commonwealth Cup with a big chance. We always thought he was probably a Group 1 horse. He's trained on over the winter and proved that he justifies being classed as maybe a Group 1 horse this year."

Red-hot Ballydoyle

Aidan O'Brien was out of luck with his runners in the French 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, but the master trainer continued his otherwise tremendous form with a Naas treble.

Battaash's brother The Antarctic was left unchanged as 5-1 favourite for the Norfolk Stakes after making it two from two in the opening 5f conditions race, scoring at 4-9 under Seamie Heffernan.

The Antarctic is on course for a tilt at the Norfolk Stakes after this victory at NaasCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"He has a lot of natural speed and is a high cruiser," said O'Brien. "The plan was to go for the Norfolk if everything went well today."

There are also Royal Ascot ambitions for Meditate after an impressive Group 3 strike in the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes under Wayne Lordan.

O'Brien said of the now 3-1 favourite (from 8) for the Albany: "She's laid-back at home so is a hard filly to get a read on, but she won nicely at the Curragh [on her debut]. Obviously we'll talk to the lads but we had been thinking about the Albany for her if everything went well today."

Promising maiden winner Galleria Borghese completed the Ballydoyle treble, but there was also joy for O'Brien and his wife Annemarie as their Whisperview Trading operation bred Listed Sole Power Sprint Stakes scorer Brostaigh, trained by their son Joseph.

Brostaigh (centre) showed plenty of natural speed to land the Listed Sole Power Sprint StakesCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

An improving three-year-old, the 10-1 shot carried the colours of Annemarie O'Brien to become the first half of a double on the card for her trainer.

Well-handicapped three-year-old Amortentia made a breakthrough in handicap company, making it four winners on the day for Joseph O'Brien between Naas and Killarney.

Double celebration

Ger Lyons has been mopping up stakes races in the early throes of the Flat season, and gutsy four-year-old Lust made it nine wins in Listed or Group company for the stable in 2022 when landing the Owenstown Stud Stakes.

That Listed success was the first half of a double for the trainer and champion jockey Colin Keane, as Hale Bopp recorded his third career win in the concluding mile handicap.

On the Newtown Anner Stud Farm-owned Lust, Lyons said: "He's good and tough. Seven furlongs and stepping him up in class, where there are fewer runners, suits him."

Results, replays and analysis

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday