COMMONWEALTH CUP

(GROUP 1)

KARL Burke’s mare Quiet Reflection was sent off the 7/4 favourite in the second running of the Commonwealth Cup, a top-class six-furlong affair confined to three-year-olds.

It seemed a fairly cramped price, taking on talented colts, but she was chasing a five-timer and did the job in style after Kachy, the early leader, had thrown the race away by veering left across the course and ending up close to the stands’ rails. As the winning margin was only a length he must surely have gone very close indeed if keeping straight, but there appeared little his rider Richard Kingscote could do about it.

Log Out Island led early on as Kachy showed excellent pace towards the far side with Aidan O’Brien’s Washington DC close up. At half-way Quiet Reflection travelled well enough but had horses around her and Dougie Costello needed a gap.

Finally she found room in the centre and moved through to join issue, whereupon Kachy suddenly veered left across the track, mercifully causing no interference.

He still had a chance against the stands’ rails but it was the favourite who kept on strongly to give Burke his first Group 1 success and his first Royal Ascot winner.

As for Costello, his decision to switch to the flat some three years ago has now brought just about the greatest reward imaginable. He stayed calm in a tricky situation here but there were tears of relief afterwards.

“This filly jumps out well but her great strength is that she’ll go wherever you want her to,” he said. “I can’t thank everyone enough for all the loyalty they’ve shown. It’s been a long hard road but we got there in the end.”

Burke, who retained a share in the winner after buying her at the breeze-ups, got into a bit of trouble a few years ago and lost his licence.

“I know what happened there,” he said. “It was my own fault but it’s in the past and now we’re back and doing well. My wife Elaine and my daughter wouldn’t let me keep half of Quiet Reflection but I was determined to keep a small piece of her!

“She cost only £45,000 and there are 10 of us in this filly,” said Simon Bridge of the Ontoawinner Syndicate. “But overall there are about 200 owners and 42 horses. Days like this make it all simply unbelievable.

“A Group 1? Really? You couldn’t make it up!”

Burke would be worried about the July Cup if it came up firm at Newmarket, but Haydock in the autumn is on the agenda with a likely trip to Champions Day back at Ascot later on.

Fellow trainer Tom Dascombe took Kachy’s antics very well but was mystified. “Back to five furlongs and blinkers,” he murmured.