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| Staff Writer |
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Arizona Blaze appears perfectly positioned for a tilt at the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot with trainer Adrian Murray confirming the six-furlong Group One contest as his first major target of the season.
The impressive colt has only finished outside the top three once in his 12-start career and recently showed his sprinting prowess when winning the Prix Sigy at Chantilly by two and a half lengths, with Commonwealth Cup entries Estepona and Polyvega filling the places.
"He improves with every run," remarked Murray following Arizona Blaze's Chantilly success, with the possibility of an outing in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock before heading to Royal Ascot.
Jockey David Egan's assessment after Arizona Blaze's winning return at Dundalk also suggests further improvement, noting the colt had "done well physically" and "was always a big horse that was going to be better at three."
Last year's Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin took a similar path through the Haydock Group Two before Royal Ascot glory, potentially providing the perfect blueprint for Arizona Blaze's campaign.
The Commonwealth Cup market has seen significant movement this week following key trials. Babouche, trained by Ger Lyons, impressed when winning at the weekend, prompting her trainer to suggest she has "a huge chance" at Royal Ascot.
Whistlejacket from Aidan O'Brien's yard could take a significant step forward from his recent run. Speaking before that race, O'Brien tempered expectations saying: "We often feel if you come to a trial and you have them really right, on the big day they often don't improve the way you think so he should improve from today to Ascot win, lose or draw but he needs to run today to set him up for Ascot."
Interestingly, Guineas third Shadow Of Light started as ante-post favourite despite trainer Charlie Appleby suggesting the St James's Palace Stakes would be his next target. It would be surprising to see connections attempt to reinvent the Dewhurst winner as a sprinter.
Similarly, French Guineas one-two Henri Matisse and Jonquil feature prominently in the betting, though both would be dropping back significantly in trip.
Arizona Blaze has strong form credentials having finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Big Mojo and Whistlejacket behind him. He also had Whistlejacket trailing when third in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last season.
With the Commonwealth Cup as his primary target rather than an afterthought, Arizona Blaze brings compelling credentials to what promises to be a fascinating Royal Ascot showdown.