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| Staff Writer |
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Inisherin made a strong statement in the champion sprint division with an impressive win in the Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup. Trained in Yorkshire by Kevin Ryan for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Inisherin, ridden by Tom Eaves, showcased its potential by winning the race.
Having previously won the Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes, Inisherin demonstrated its strength by leading the pack and then accelerating to a victory, crossing the finish line over two lengths ahead of Lake Forest, with Jasour finishing a head further back in third place. This victory marked Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's second homebred Gr.1 winner of the week, following Rosallion's triumph in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Ryan said: “Inisherin improved from Haydock. I think he is just going to get quicker and better at this job. He’s a joy to train, an absolute legend.
“It was a very easy watch. It is very different ground than how it was at Haydock, which always makes you nervous, but he is a great striding horse. I was nervous about the ground going to Haydock, with it being soft. Then obviously when he won on that type of ground, then coming here... but he hardly bends his knees.”
On training for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum: “He is a great owner to have. He’s a pleasure to train for. He takes the pressure off you. I put the pressure on myself. Either way, I’m going to feel under pressure.”
Eaves said: “Inisherin is a machine. I am very lucky to be on him. A big thank you to Sheikh Mohamed Obaid and Kevin Ryan.
"He's a unit of a horse, you see how long it took me to pull up. He has a lot of class. He's quick and when I got off him after the Guineas, before I had even opened my mouth, Kevin said he was a sprinter.
“When I saw the draw come out as one, it’s not exactly where you want to be, but he’s a horse with a very good mind. He’s very relaxed, very uncomplicated, and he showed that in the way he went through the race. He won well.
“You try and look at it as a normal race and plan in your head how you want it to go. The horse is uncomplicated and that’s massive – it makes my job easier. At the yard, we knew we had something special at home, but until they actually come and do it... he’s proved that now, that he’s a special horse.”
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid said: “We expected Inisherin to win this, because he’s a good horse. He didn’t run well in the Guineas because he needed a shorter trip. He is a sprinter by Shamardal.
“After the Guineas, when he was sixth, Kevin told me straight away that he would drop him to six. Inisherin had been working with sprinters and passing them standing still.
“I trust all my trainers; what they say I agree with them. I like racing and I want my horses [Inisherin and Rosallion] to run next year – the press and the TV like it too.
“Rosallion is a super horse and you haven’t seen the best of him yet. He needs a fast pace and then you will see what he can do. In the Guineas here and in Ireland, he only did a sprint for half a furlong or a furlong.”
Lake Forest’s rider Tom Marquand said: “He ran super. After time off the track, it was going to be tough, but he’s an extremely tough horse. He’s a Gimcrack winner – it’s easy to forget what he did as a 2YO- but he’s trained on beautifully and hopefully we’ll have a lot of fun with him during the rest of the year.”
Clive Cox said of Jasour: “That was a great run. The winner was impressive. Jasour just switched leads right before the line, which might have cost us second, but he’s run a blinder. I am thrilled he is going the right way. I think we are close enough to warrant a kick at the July Cup, a race in which three-year-olds have done really well in the past.”
Clive Cox is looking forward to bringing his horse Jasour to Newmarket for the My Pension Expert July Cup. There is a possibility of a Commonwealth Cup rematch with Inisherin, and Cox believes his horse can perform well.
Jasour won the July Stakes as a juvenile and has proven his suitability for the July Course at Headquarters. Although he had some struggles after winning Group Two honors, he has been performing well this season. He won at Ascot on Trials Day in the Pavilion Stakes and finished third at the Royal meeting.
Cox also expressed satisfaction with Kerdos's performance, who finished fifth in the King Charles III Stakes. He believes Kerdos can continue to compete in high-level races and is excited about the potential of both Kerdos and Jasour.
1st- Inisherin (Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum) Kevin Ryan /Tom Eaves
2nd- Lake Forest (Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy) William Haggas / Tom Marquand
3rd- Jasour (Al Mohamediya Racing) Clive Cox / Jim Crowley