Goodwood set to be next port of call for Merchant
'To win another King George V was really special. It's been an amazing race for us,' said Highclere's Harry Herbert.
'We've always loved that type of horse, but they are becoming more difficult to buy. We were over the moon to buy him as a Teofilo with Group One scope – he was so gorgeous William Haggas rang up asking to train him, which he's never done.
'He's still relatively inexperienced, he was sort of dossing on the outside going along very easily with his head not really in full throttle position, but one tap from Tom (Marquand) and he really quickened up impressively.
'He's a really exciting prospect, I would imagine he will go for the Gordon, that's the right sort of race, we'll take it one step at a time. The fact he was even entered in the King George tells you the regard William holds him in, but having spoken to him this morning I think we'll go a more regular route and probably head to Goodwood.'
Highclere also went close at the big meeting with George Boughey's Awaken, who was runner-up to Venetian Sun in the Albany Stakes.
'Awaken is a very exciting filly, she's a scopey filly so everything is a bonus. It's gone from wondering if she'd get on the track this year to here were are having been second in an Albany,' said Herbert.
'I don't know where we'll go. We could just try to get her a win in a maiden or a novice or we may go for another Group race.
'If we do I think something like the Princess Margaret back at Ascot might suit her.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Hayynah could be another to Star for Sangster
The daughter of Showcasing has shown great potential when hitting the crossbar in two outings to date and her handler is optimistic a step up to seven furlongs can see her thrive in a race he has made his own in recent years. Sangster said: 'She's the only one in there who hasn't won, but we feel her seconds have been good performances that can be marked up a bit. 'I hope the step up to seven furlongs will bring about some improvement and she's a home bred of owner Ahmad Ziad Galadari so it would be nice to go there and pick up some black type.' It was Shuwari who helped advertise Sangster's ability as a trainer when landing this race in 2023, and after Celestial Orbit repeated the dose 12 months ago, the Manton handler admits the pressure was on to find another suitable candidate for this year's contest. He added: 'It's been a lucky race for us so I wanted to find something nice for it. I'm not sure she's of the calibre of the fillies we've run in the race the last two years, but she seems to be progressing. 'There's only 10 days between this and her last run at Windsor which is perhaps a little soon, but I don't think she had an overly hard race last time and hopefully the stiff nature of the finish at Sandown might be beneficial for her. 'It's not a big field but there's some nice fillies in there who have won good maidens, so no doubt there is a bit of depth to it.' Hayynah is among a field of eight for the feature event on Thursday's card, with Richard Hannon's taking Newmarket scorer Orion's Belt chief leading the opposition. John and Thady Gosden won this with Inspiral in 2021 and rely on Albany Stakes seventh Nandita, who steps up in trip while dropping in grade, with Charlie Johnston is another to win this race in recent years and his Jennifer Jane is already proven over the distance after a runaway win at Wetherby on her second start. Edward Smyth-Osbourne's Haydock scorer Tavana, Karl Burke's Hope Queen and James Ferguson's Electoral College have all raced once and one once, with Eve Johnston Houghton's Mystic Moment the most experienced in the field and set to make her fifth start after opening her account at Epsom.
Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman's absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy. Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May. Saeed bin Suroor's Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier's yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month. Menuisier said: 'He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he'd be better over further. 'He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we're hopeful he'll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we'll keep them on.' The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month. 'He's really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I'm very pleased,' Menuisier added. 'When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you're giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it's a good level, but at level weights. 'Goodwood is our back garden, so we're going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we're going there to try and win. 'Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I'm honest. It's the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it's nearly a dream come true.' Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O'Brien's pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby's Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton's July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes. Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett's dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding's French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.
Leader Live
8 hours ago
- Leader Live
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman's absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy. Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May. Saeed bin Suroor's Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier's yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month. Menuisier said: 'He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he'd be better over further. 'He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we're hopeful he'll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we'll keep them on.' The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month. 'He's really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I'm very pleased,' Menuisier added. 'When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you're giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it's a good level, but at level weights. 'Goodwood is our back garden, so we're going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we're going there to try and win. 'Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I'm honest. It's the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it's nearly a dream come true.' Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O'Brien's pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby's Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton's July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes. Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett's dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding's French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.
