Clive Cox and Adam Kirby seek authoritative show from Supremacy in royal trial

Qipco British Champions Series horseracinghof.com Pavilion Stakes (Group 3) | 6f | 3yo | Sky

Ante-post Commonwealth Cup favourite Supremacy looks to follow the route taken by Eqtidaar, who finished second in this race on his three-year-old reappearance in 2018 before plundering the Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot in June.

Unlike Eqtidaar, Supremacy boasts a lofty official rating of 118 after a stellar juvenile campaign. The handicapper believes he has a stone in hand of his nearest rival in the Pavilion. Is his mark accurate and will he make it four victories in a row?

Judged on his Middle Park effort in September last year, it is hard to believe his mark has been inflated. Supremacy showed notable improvement for each of his four outings and produced a gutsy and impressive all-the-way victory at Newmarket.

Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner Lucky Vega (second), Gimcrack victor Minzaal (third), July Stakes winner Tactical (fourth) and Norfolk hero The Lir Jet (fifth) give the Middle Park form an extremely strong look, and Supremacy's time was 0.27 seconds faster than subsequent Fred Darling winner Alcohol Free posted in the Cheveley Park earlier on the card.

If Supremacy can reproduce that form, he should make a winning return to action. The fact that he's never run at Ascot and that he was beaten on debut last year, and therefore may be vulnerable after a layoff, are the only question marks. If either were to see him run below-par, the race-fit Jumby could be the one to pick up the pieces.

Room to manoeuvre was at a premium at Newmarket where he finished third 13 days ago and the bird had flown by the time he found daylight. His debut victory came at this track, and this son of French Derby winner New Bay could have more to offer.

Horris Hill third Saint Lawrence proved he trained on from two to three at Newbury earlier this month, while Apollo One, who took third in last year's Solario Stakes, brings recent all-weather form to the table. Supremacy will need to be near his best to live up to the hype.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

Life's a breeze for Kirby

Adam Kirby was busy watching some speedy types of the future at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Ups in Newmarket on Tuesday and is looking forward to being reunited with another flying machine in the shape of Supremacy.

Kirby and trainer Clive Cox know all about the Commonwealth Cup having won it a year ago with Golden Horde, and the jockey reckons this son of Mehmas has all the attributes to provide a follow-up.

Supremacy: top-notch prospect for the Commonwealth CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Supremacy topped off a great season when making all the running to hold Lucky Vega in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last September, and Kirby reckons he will be suited to this track.

He said: "Supremacy is in good order and gave us a couple of great days last year. I'm looking forward to another great year with him and he's strengthened out over the winter. He's a very uncomplicated horse and I expect a track like Ascot to suit his running style.

"Hopefully then the plan would be to have a crack at the Commonwealth Cup in which we had a great day a year ago with Golden Horde."

What they say

Clive Cox, trainer of Supremacy
There is no doubt that this first step this season is exactly that and I hope it's a stepping-stone to the Commonwealth Cup. He's taking on race-fit opponents, although he is superior on ratings and I'm looking forward to getting him on track for this first step. Groundwise, things will be grand. I'm just delighted we've got the opportunity to have a run under our belt before the royal meeting.

Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of Jumby
He was very unlucky on his comeback at Newmarket which he can be marked up on and we feel sprinting is his game. Whether he's up to beating Clive Cox's horse, I don't know, but he likes Ascot and this will tell us a lot.

Hollie Doyle, rider of Mighty Gurkha
He's as fit as a flea having had a good spell on the all-weather through winter and has some good form on grass. This stiff six should suit him better than somewhere like Lingfield, I think.

Roger Varian, trainer of Saint Lawrence
He ran a blinder on his comeback at Newbury where he was just caught in a nursery over seven furlongs and we are experimenting stepping back in trip with him as he travels so well. It's a tough race, but this will tell us plenty about him going forward.

Harry Herbert, manager of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, owners of Spycatcher
He has a bit to do on ratings, but is an interesting horse and had excuses for his poor runs last season. He developed into a fine physical specimen over winter and it was nice to see him win a novice on his return at Pontefract. We think a stiff six is right for him at present.
Reporting by David Milnes

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Stradivarius starts out on the road to history as hot favourite for Sagaro

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