Ascot Racecourse Celebrates Rumstar’s Impressive Fifth-Place Finish in Commonwealth Cup

Ascot, June 24th, 2023 – Trainer Jonathan Portman expressed his delight with Rumstar’s strong performance in the prestigious Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. The 80-1 outsider finished a respectable fifth, just two and a half lengths behind the winner, showcasing the horse’s promising potential.

Portman, who trains the horse in Lambourn, was proud of Rumstar’s efforts, noting that the team had faced a few challenges earlier in the spring, but the horse had run well in his previous outing at Newbury. “I was very proud. We’d had a few hiccups in the spring so he was going to need his seasonal debut at Newbury and he had a penalty in that too,” Portman said.

Despite the long odds, Portman believed Rumstar would outperform expectations, and the horse’s fifth-place finish in the Group 1 event was a testament to the trainer’s faith. “I told everyone he’d outrun his odds. I never expected him to win, but it was a relief I didn’t overface him and a relief he justified all the entries fees, which the owner won back in prize-money,” Portman added.

The trainer now has his sights set on the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury next month, but he is also considering the Coral Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood as a potential option for his stable star. “I’ve often thought of the Stewards’ Cup and I’ve got to decide on Tuesday if I enter him. It’s an option and he’s a tough little bugger,” Portman revealed.

Portman, who enjoyed a successful campaign last season, winning the Sandringham at Royal Ascot in 2013 and featuring a strong performer in Mrs Danvers in recent years, was thrilled to have a horse that has generated buzz among racing enthusiasts. “It makes all the difference. The betting said he was a no-hoper, but I didn’t think he was and everyone got a huge buzz just being involved. It’s important and adds to the feelgood factor when everything else is pretty s**!”** he said.

The trainer’s confidence in Rumstar’s abilities was well-justified, and the horse’s fifth-place finish in the Commonwealth Cup has undoubtedly raised the profile of both the horse and the stable.

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