Classy Caravaggio wins Commonwealth Cup

Caravaggio maintained his unbeaten record with a superb display in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

The six-furlong contest was billed as one of the races of the week, as the Aidan O'Brien-trained Caravaggio, so impressive in the Coventry Stakes at last year's meeting, took on a couple of major Godolphin-owned contenders in Harry Angel and Blue Point.

Just as he had done when bolting up in last month's Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, Clive Cox's Harry Angel was soon racing enthusiastically at the head of affairs and ensured a strong pace.

Blue Point, trained by Charlie Appleby, had beaten Harry Angel in the Pavilion Stakes over the course and distance in early May and loomed up to challenge inside the final furlong.

Harry Angel managed to see him off on this occasion, but had no answer when the more patiently-ridden 5-6 favourite Caravaggio stormed by late on under Ryan Moore and there was three-quarters of a length between them at the line.

Harry Angel was in turn half a length in front of Blue Point, with the trio pulling nicely clear of American challenger Bound For Nowhere.

O'Brien said: "He's obviously a brilliant horse. It was only his second run back and we've been afraid to do too much because we didn't want to lose that brilliance that he has. Ryan gave him a brilliant ride and his change of pace is unbelievable.

"Ryan was very confident in him, he said he was just going to pop him out and let it happen and that's exactly what he did, he said he'd come there very late and that's exactly what he did.

"He's very quick - I don't think we've ever had a quicker horse. It was a big step up from his first run at Naas. We knew it was against three-year-olds today but it will be older horses next time."