Time For Sandals Delivers Commonwealth Upset
Time For Sandals continued a dream week for trainer Harry Eustace when causing a 25-1 upset in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) under Richard Kingscote June 20 at Ascot Racecourse.
Eustace had claimed a breakthrough group 1 success with Docklands in Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes and sent out La Botte to finish second in Thursday’s Britannia Stakes.
Time For Sandals was positioned in the far-side group and powered home to deny 28-1 runner-up Arizona Blaze and 20-1 third Rayevka . Shisospicy , winner of the Mamzelle Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs last out, finished 15th in the 21-horse field.
The Royal Ascot victory was the first top-level win for Time For Sandals, a 3-year-old daughter of Sands of Mali .
“We’d planned to follow the American horse and the draw had been a concern, but Karl’s filly (Venetian Sun, Albany winner) came out of stall one and it gave us the confidence in our side,” Eustace said. “She’s been training very well and a good strong pace to aim at is what she needed.
“It’s the hardest place on earth this place,” the trainer said. “They’ve arrived in very good shape and they’ve trained super all year. It’s all credit to the staff, they do all the hard work, and we’ve turned up here in perfect shape. We knew we’d good horses coming in good form, and then you need the racing luck.”
Said winning jockey Kingscote: “I’ve had nice horses to ride but since Sir Michael (Stoute, former trainer) retired this year was up in the air. It was always going to be a year of building back up. I’ve had a nice bit of support and I’m delighted to get on a filly like her.
“Last year she was a very unlucky placed horse in the Super Sprint. She’s progressed all the way through and was unlucky the last time I felt. She did a spectacular piece of work a couple of weeks ago in Newmarket, and I’m delighted to ride Harry([Eustace, trainer) a big winner because he’s a gentleman. His yard is such a happy yard, so it’s nice to ride a good winner for them.
“They (Royal Ascot winners) are very difficult to come by and I’m delighted.”
Graded stakes-winning American Shisospicy, racing for trainer Jose D’Angelo and owners Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing, led a group of runners on the far side of the straightaway course before fading over the final quarter mile. The 3-year-old Mitole filly weakened to 15th in the field of 21 sprinters.
