Tag Archive for: cold case

Sandy Lane option open for Commonwealth contender Cold Case

/in /by

Cold Case will be handed a Commonwealth Cup berth by Karl Burke after his scintillating victory at Ascot on Wednesday.

The three-year-old son of Showcasing took the Group Three British Racing School 40th Anniversary Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes by a length and a half on his seasonal debut.

Clifford Lee’s mount was always to the fore in the six-furlong event and completed a hat-trick, having already landed two valuable prizes at Doncaster and Redcar at the back-end of last season.

Cold Case could now have a run in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock on May 26 – a race the Leyburn yard won last year with El Caballo – before his Group One engagement at Royal Ascot.

Burke said: “We were delighted with that. He is a lovely horse and hopefully we can get him to win at a higher grade as well and get him a stallion’s job with a bit of luck.

“He is a lovely stamp of a horse. I would imagine he will go for the Sandy Lane, then the Commonwealth. If for any reason he doesn’t make the Sandy Lane, he will go straight to the Commonwealth.

“Ascot is not an easy track to make all, but he’s a horse who will stay further and stay seven (furlongs), I think. Certainly he’ll get another 100 yards and he’s an exciting horse for the future.”

Cold Case swoops late for Commonwealth Trial triumph

/in /by

Cold Case began his season in the best possible fashion when coming home strongly to win the British Racing School 40th Anniversary Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot.

Karl Burke’s three-year-old enjoyed a good season last year, winning a valuable sales race at Doncaster before ending with success in the Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar.

Sent off a 5-1 chance in what looked a very strong Group Three, he was caught out for speed over a furlong from home as Hollie Doyle and Bradsell, returning from a lengthy absence, shot clear.

Archie Watson’s Coventry Stakes winner looked as though he was about to resume winning ways, but on his first start since sustaining an injury in the Phoenix Stakes 270 days ago, he began to tire in the closing stages.

Clifford Lee on Cold Case sensed his opportunity and swept into the lead, triumphing by a length and a half, with 125-1 outsider The X O finishing well for second. Bradsell was a further short head back in third.

Lee said: “I thought as he hadn’t run for a while he might need it, but he picked up really well.

“He’s a good galloper, very consistent, and he has a bit of boot as well.

“I will be more confident wherever he goes next time.”