Latest news with #Highclere
South Wales Argus
01-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Merchant camp planning to stick to Goodwood route
William Haggas' Royal Ascot winner saw the form of his King George V Stakes success enhanced when runner-up Serious Contender chased home Lambourn in the Irish Derby, but the Merchant team are at present resisting the temptation of a return to Ascot for their Group One feature on July 26. 'It's really exciting and as we know it's pretty stiff form,' said Harry Herbert of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. MERCHANT becomes our 12th Royal Ascot winner! The son of Teofilo storms home to win the King George V Stakes with Tom Marquand in the saddle for trainer William Haggas 🏆 Many congratulations to all of his owners 👏🏼#HighclereRacing #RoyalAscot — Highclere (@HighclereRacing) June 19, 2025 'I'm a great believer in you never say never and if you have the entry then you can consider all options, but I couldn't envisage him running in the King George unless Calandagan suddenly couldn't go and a couple more fell by the wayside. 'If you had Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner leading the betting, then that's something that might lead to another conversation but for right now the plan is to go to Goodwood.' With King George thoughts on the back burner, Merchant's route is likely to be as previously outlined, with the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 setting up a possible visit to York during the Ebor Festival. Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA) Herbert added: 'The plan is to go for the Gordon Stakes and play it one race at a time and if he happens to win there and depending on how he comes out of it, we'll probably then head to the Great Voltigeur (August 20) and take it from there. 'He's a high-class colt and like all these horses, it will all depend on how they develop on during the season and fingers crossed he's going to be a pretty important beast.'
Glasgow Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Merchant camp planning to stick to Goodwood route
William Haggas' Royal Ascot winner saw the form of his King George V Stakes success enhanced when runner-up Serious Contender chased home Lambourn in the Irish Derby, but the Merchant team are at present resisting the temptation of a return to Ascot for their Group One feature on July 26. 'It's really exciting and as we know it's pretty stiff form,' said Harry Herbert of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. MERCHANT becomes our 12th Royal Ascot winner! The son of Teofilo storms home to win the King George V Stakes with Tom Marquand in the saddle for trainer William Haggas 🏆 Many congratulations to all of his owners 👏🏼#HighclereRacing #RoyalAscot — Highclere (@HighclereRacing) June 19, 2025 'I'm a great believer in you never say never and if you have the entry then you can consider all options, but I couldn't envisage him running in the King George unless Calandagan suddenly couldn't go and a couple more fell by the wayside. 'If you had Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner leading the betting, then that's something that might lead to another conversation but for right now the plan is to go to Goodwood.' With King George thoughts on the back burner, Merchant's route is likely to be as previously outlined, with the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 setting up a possible visit to York during the Ebor Festival. Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA) Herbert added: 'The plan is to go for the Gordon Stakes and play it one race at a time and if he happens to win there and depending on how he comes out of it, we'll probably then head to the Great Voltigeur (August 20) and take it from there. 'He's a high-class colt and like all these horses, it will all depend on how they develop on during the season and fingers crossed he's going to be a pretty important beast.'
The Herald Scotland
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Merchant camp planning to stick to Goodwood route
'It's really exciting and as we know it's pretty stiff form,' said Harry Herbert of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. MERCHANT becomes our 12th Royal Ascot winner! The son of Teofilo storms home to win the King George V Stakes with Tom Marquand in the saddle for trainer William Haggas 🏆 Many congratulations to all of his owners 👏🏼#HighclereRacing #RoyalAscot — Highclere (@HighclereRacing) June 19, 2025 'I'm a great believer in you never say never and if you have the entry then you can consider all options, but I couldn't envisage him running in the King George unless Calandagan suddenly couldn't go and a couple more fell by the wayside. 'If you had Aidan O'Brien's dual Derby winner leading the betting, then that's something that might lead to another conversation but for right now the plan is to go to Goodwood.' With King George thoughts on the back burner, Merchant's route is likely to be as previously outlined, with the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 setting up a possible visit to York during the Ebor Festival. Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA) Herbert added: 'The plan is to go for the Gordon Stakes and play it one race at a time and if he happens to win there and depending on how he comes out of it, we'll probably then head to the Great Voltigeur (August 20) and take it from there. 'He's a high-class colt and like all these horses, it will all depend on how they develop on during the season and fingers crossed he's going to be a pretty important beast.'
Rhyl Journal
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Goodwood set to be next port of call for Merchant
The William Haggas-trained three-year-old continued his progression when quickening up stylishly to win the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, giving owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing a fifth victory in the race. '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.'
South Wales Guardian
24-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Goodwood set to be next port of call for Merchant
The William Haggas-trained three-year-old continued his progression when quickening up stylishly to win the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, giving owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing a fifth victory in the race. '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.'
