Julie Camacho's exciting three year old Shaquille has been given the big target of the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot with the three year old quickly becoming the yards flag bearer.
A winner on career debut at York over 7f, he then went back over the same C&D in the Group Three Acomb Stakes and was totally outclassed finishing last of nine in a race that has produced some nice winners.
Dropped to 6f back at York in October he resumed winning ways taking a Novice Stakes under a penalty and then in December made it 2/2 at Wolverhampton in a AW Championships Fast Track Qualifier over 6f.
Sent into handicap company for the first time at Newmarket's Guineas meeting, he powered away from a decent field to score off a mark of 94.
Given a chance when last seen in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes, he stepped up again to take the race from the front beating star sprinters Desert Cop, Aesop's Fable and Noble Style.
Camacho is now eyeing Group One glory with her colt at the Royal meeting and her husband and assistant trainer Steve Brown has nothing but positives to say about the horse.
Slam-dunk success for Shaquille (100-30) in the @BetVictor Carnarvon Stakes @NewburyRacing 👀@JCamachoRacing's progressive sprinter brilliantly lands Listed honours.
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 20, 2023
Watch until the end. The Charm Spirit colt took a hell of a lot of stopping under @the_doyler ... pic.twitter.com/Kfp2hkAo2X
(Credit ATR) Brown said: “He taken his exertions well from the weekend, he’s had a few quiet days but he’ll be back in full exercise by the end of the week.
“The next obvious option is to go to Ascot with him for the Commonwealth Cup, we’re pleased with what he’s doing as he seems to be settling into his racing and showing a bit more maturity.
“He keeps finding a bit of improvement, so at the minute we feel as though that’s the right option. We’ll ask him for a little bit more and see what he’s got to say.
“Saturday will be informative at Haydock (the Sandy Lane Stakes), we’ll see what comes out of that.”
Brown added:“The fascinating thing with this horse is that he never comes home tired, he always comes home and says ‘well that was OK, what are we doing next?’.
“He had a long day, he travelled down to Newbury and back in a day and within an hour he’d eaten his tea up and he was ready to do whatever you asked of him next.”