Tag Archive for: Brian Meehan

Meehan eyeing more Breeders’ Cup Turf glory with Jayarebe

Jayarebe can cap an excellent campaign when he bids to give Brian Meehan a third win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

The Zoffany colt has not let his connections down throughout a fantastic season that has seen him win three of his five starts and score in both the Hampton Court Stakes and at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend.

The Royal Ascot hero – who will again be ridden by Sean Levey – now heads to California looking to follow in the footsteps of Red Rocks (2006) and Dangerous Midge (2010), who have both won this event for the Manton handler in the past.

Jayarebe after winning the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot
Jayarebe after winning the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Meehan said: “He’s an adaptable type of horse and Sean knows him so well. The trip’s good, and he will switch between 10 and 12 furlongs next year.

“This has been on Jayarebe’s radar since the spring and all his form is good, whether you look at the Dollar, the Hampton Court or the Feilden.

“The Breeders’ Cup is my favourite meeting and it’s wonderful to be back. To win a championship race on another continent is very special.”

Also with history in the Turf are John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, who teamed up to win this race with the great Enable in 2018 and are reunited Stateside with Emily Upjohn.

Frankie Dettori was reunited with Emily Upjohn on Wednesday
Frankie Dettori was reunited with Emily Upjohn on Wednesday (Neil Morrice/PA)

The evergreen Italian, who relocated to America at the end of the 2023 British Flat season, has ridden the daughter of Sea The Stars to both her previous Group One victories and is a fitting pilot for what could be her career swansong.

Aidan O’Brien won this event with Auguste Rodin 12 months ago and will saddle both Luxembourg and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes runner-up Wingspan.

Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star Rebel’s Romance looks to recapture the title he won in 2022, having regained the winning thread at Cologne in the Preis Von Europa.

“Everybody knows about Rebel’s Romance, who always runs with his heart on his sleeve, and I was delighted with his run in Germany,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

Rebel's Romance after his victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf
Rebel’s Romance after his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (PA)

“He left there with credit, as they went hard, while the winner and second came from off the pace. He was just getting a bit tired in the last hundred yards, and William (Buick, jockey) said he will improve a ton.

“This horse has built up his own fan club, and it would be fantastic if he were to win it again.”

The Godolphin trainer also has a strong hand in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love.

Both fillies have built up plenty of experience in America as part of Appleby’s satellite team and could give the handler his second victory in the race here at Del Mar, having saddled Wuheida to strike in 2017.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has a fine record at the Breeders' Cup
Trainer Charlie Appleby has a fine record at the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton for The Jockey Club/PA)

“Cinderella’s Dream won a race which was strange to watch and then had a long ship to Woodbine, where she had a touch of colic and couldn’t run,” said Appleby.

“I toyed with running her in the Queen Elizabeth but decided against it and now she looks great, and ready to go.

“Beautiful Love won a Grade Three in the Big A and was unlucky on her second start. She deserves to be there.”

Soprano was a winner at Royal Ascot winner
Soprano was a winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Other British interest is provided by George Boughey’s Royal Ascot heroine Soprano, who has remained in the States since picking up a silver medal in Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last month and now tries a mile and three furlongs for the first time in her career.

“She looks great and she has stayed out here since Keeneland when she was second in the QEII,” said Harry Herbert, managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

“I think she will get the trip round here and Billy Loughnane is convinced she needs that trip now to be seen at her best effect, so let’s hope he is right. You never know until you try.”



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Gosden playing waiting game with Emily Upjohn

John Gosden is keeping his options open ahead of Emily Upjohn’s outing at the Breeders’ Cup next week.

The versatile five-year-old has enjoyed Group One success at both 10 furlongs and a mile and a half and featured among the pre-entries for both the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the longer Breeders’ Cup Turf against the colts and geldings at Del Mar.

Emily Upjohn is Paddy Power’s 5-2 favourite for the mile-and-a-quarter race against her own sex having chased home Arc heroine Bluestocking and ParisLongchamp runner-up Aventure in the Prix Vermeille when last seen.

However, Gosden, who trains the daughter of Sea The Stars in conjunction with son Thady, is content to remain in both races as long as possible before pinning his colours to a particular mast.

Emily Upjohn (left) has locked horns with Bluestocking on a couple of occasions this term
Emily Upjohn (left) has locked horns with Bluestocking on a couple of occasions this term (Damien Eagers/PA)

Gosden said: “She ran very well, third in the Prix Vermeille the other day and obviously the winner won the Arc, so that’s rock-solid form and again, she was second to the same filly in Ireland in the Pretty Polly, so she’s run very solidly.

“We might look at the Turf on Monday – you’re allowed to double enter and when you double enter, you look at the races and see what you think so there’s a possibility.

“She’s run against the colts before, the starting stalls are at the beginning of the back stretch rather than the furlong, you’ve got more of a run down the back, so that’s an advantage as well.

“The draw is very important at Del Mar – if you start getting high draws, and double numbers, things start getting quite complicated.”

One horse definitely going for the Turf is the Brian Meehan-trained Jayarebe. The Zoffany colt has been a real star for his Manton yard, being out of the first three just once in seven career starts.

His efforts this year have included wins in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot and most recently the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend. Sandwiched in between those runs was a fine effort against Economics at Deauville.

Should he come out on top in California, he would be a third winner of the race for Meehan, after Red Rocks (2006) and Dangerous Midge (2010).

“We’re delighted with Jayarebe – he’s been in great form since winning in France. He works tomorrow (Friday) and flies out early Saturday morning. Sean Levey will ride him,” said Meehan.

“The form of the Prix Dollar has really been boosted and we’re delighted with him heading into the Breeders’ Cup.

“We’ve been fortunate to have great success at the Breeders’ Cup in the past and we’re looking forward to it.”

He added: “We believe the mile-and-a-half trip in America will suit him perfectly. It’s brilliant to have Sean on board. He knows the colt very well and he’s riding so well at the moment.”



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Jayarebe cashes in for Meehan with Dollar success

Brian Meehan’s Jayarebe had to be brave to add the Prix Dollar to his Royal Ascot success.

The Zoffany colt won the Hampton Court Stakes in June and has only been seen in action once since then, running a very creditable race behind subsequent Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics at Deauville.

Back in France at ParisLongchamp, Sean Levey was determined to make it a true test and led the Group Two field turning into the straight.

He looked a sitting duck as first Anmaat, the winner two years ago, and then Calif loomed upsides apparently going the better.

However, Jayarebe saw both of them off before Ryan Moore, looking for a fourth winner on the card, delivered Almaqam and while he was closing with every stride he could not quite get on terms.

“The horse is on an upward curve, he started in a Listed race at Newmarket in the spring and is going through each stage,” said Meehan.

“Maybe there’s a horse out there one day that will give him a proper lead, he had to do it all himself today but credit to Ed Walker’s horse as he gave him a race inside the last 100 yards. There’s so much more to come.

“We’ll see about the Breeders’ Cup, we’ll get him home, it was a long journey here so we’ll take it from there. I’d have no worries about stepping up to a mile and a half for the (Breeders’ Cup) Turf and he stays in training.

“I was slightly concerned about the ground but Sean said he was fine, so he’s proving versatile, he’s very exciting and he’s got a great owner. It’s great for the team at home as well.”



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Rashabar heading to Paris firing on all cylinders

Rashabar will bid to sign off for the year on a high when he goes for Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere glory at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Brian Meehan’s Coventry Stakes hero found only Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket too good when second in the Prix Morny earlier in the summer and with connections resisting temptation to go for the National Stakes in Ireland recently, Rashabar will again cross the Channel as he steps up to seven furlongs.

The son of Holy Roman Emperor had been mooted as a Breeders’ Cup contender for later in the year, but his team are now leaning towards this being the colt’s final outing of a so-far successful juvenile campaign, with sights already pointed at a return to the French capital for next May’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

“He’s come out of the Morny really well. We gave the National a good long hard think, but opted to keep the miles low on the clock and with the French premiums, this looked an obvious target for him,” said Sam Sangster, manager of owners Manton Thoroughbreds.

“I think this will be his swansong for the year and I think we will be thinking of a similar path Isaac Shelby took the other year which was finishing him off after this and heading to the Greenham and French Guineas next spring.

“He’s got an exceptional temperament. He is a horse we could very easily take to the Breeders’ Cup, but we really think he is a horse for next year.”

Other notable names in the Lagardere mix include John and Thady Gosden’s Solario Stakes winner Field Of Gold and Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse, with the seven-furlong contest one of six Group One events on the Arc day card.

Henri Matisse winning at the Curragh
Henri Matisse winning at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien’s Bedtime Story is the standout filly in the other two-year-old contest, the Prix Marcel Boussac, with the daughter of Frankel seeking to bounce back from her slightly disappointing display in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Meanwhile there is set to be plenty of British and Irish representation in the Prix de l’Abbaye for the speedsters, with Archie Watson’s Nunthorpe and Flying Five champion Bradsell among 21 going forward for the five-furlong event.

Ralph Beckett’s Park Stakes hero Kinross will attempt to regain his Prix de la Foret crown having surrendered the title to Kelina 12 months ago, while Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel features in the 18 remaining in the Prix de l’Opera following her brave effort behind Porta Fortuna in the Matron Stakes.



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Paris the next stop for Meehan’s Jayarebe

Jayarebe, who was last seen chasing home Economics in France, is being readied for another cross-Channel assignment.

Winner of the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the Brian Meehan-trained Jayarebe finished a clear second to last weekend’s Irish Champion Stakes hero in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in mid-August and is now being pointed at a Group Two prize on Arc weekend in Paris.

“The form obviously looks strong and he’s going for the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend,” said Meehan.

“That will lead us on to the next step, which could well be the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but we’ll see.”

Brian Meehan at Chester
Brian Meehan at Chester (Mike Egerton/PA)

Meehan also has big-race plans for his promising juvenile pair of Law Of Design and Rashabar.

Law Of Design confirmed the promise of his debut third at Newmarket with an impressive victory at Ascot on his second start, while Coventry Stakes hero Rashabar – runner-up to Whistlejacket in the Prix Morny last time out – has Group One options at home and abroad.

Meehan added: “Law Of Design is in great form and we’ll look at the Royal Lodge (September 28) or the Autumn Stakes (October 12) at Newmarket, depending on how he is.

“At the moment Rashabar heads for the Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc weekend and we’ll see how it goes. I don’t think we have to make any definitive plans with him because the owners are patient.

“He worked this morning and worked very well and everybody is very happy. The Dewhurst is there as well and there’s always the Breeders’ Cup for him, so there’s lots of options and we won’t make a decision until we have to.

“We’ll play it all by ear and I don’t want to commit to anything with him at the moment.”



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Monday Musings: Play it again, Sam

Visitors to Ascot racecourse on Saturday, at least the older ones, might have been excused for having their memories jolted back to a 1970 Woody Allen film, Play It Again Sam, writes Tony Stafford. Woody plays a man obsessed with Casablanca, the 1942 film in which Ingrid Bergman asks Dooley Wilson to "Play It Sam, play it."

The song she was asking for was As Time Goes By, and she was about to leave Humphrey Bogart. Everyone, however, remembers her words incorrectly as “Play it again, Sam” - and Sam Sangster was certainly playing it again with another of his fiendishly cheap yearling buys.

On the same course where in his late father Robert’s treasured colours Rashabar was the 80/1 winner of the Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting from the wrong (far) side of the track, now it was Law Of Design. On only his second start, Law Of Design showed he was already worth many times that yearling price of 25 grand from whence he was recruited into another of Sam's Manton Thoroughbreds syndicates.

The common theme of course is the revived Brian Meehan training them both on the Manton estate which the late Robert Sangster bought in 1984.

I’ve often referred to Sam Sangster’s inherent understanding of what makes a racehorse when perusing the animals at the sales, almost always in Brian‘s company. Law Of Design is from the first crop of the Prix du Jockey Club and then, at four, Prix de l’Arc to Triomphe winner Sottsass, a son of the great sire Siyouni.

Siyouni stands in France for €200k. His top-class son, who also has a further Group 1 win on his record of six victories from 12 starts, is standing for one-eighth that amount at Coolmore stud.

There’s an uncanny similarity between Sottsass so far and the early stage of Galileo’s stud career when his first crop was slow to get going – until they were able to run over seven furlongs and then bam! The rest as they should say, rather than history, was transformative of the entire breed.

I’m not suggesting that Sottsass will be another Galileo, but with the gelded Law Of Design’s smooth win at Ascot, he now has three winners, two of them fillies, so this was his first male victor. The shortest winning distance is seven furlongs, with a runaway Christopher Head filly at half a furlong more in France and the Dr Richard Newland/Jamie Insole inmate Veraison winning at the third time of asking at Wolverhampton.

With two wins each on all-weather and turf this year, the Insole half of the partnership has been concentrating greatly on juveniles in their revamped operation. Insole is the main force in that direction and Veraison wasn’t cheap. She cost €120k at the sales.

Jamie Insole is from an Irish family, his grandfather Victor Kennedy, first a jockey who rode Bigaroon – I backed him! - to win the Irish Cesarewitch, then became a successful trainer. Jamie grew up in Billericay in Essex but learnt to ride on frequent trips to the family home in Ireland.

He had spells with Alan King and then as assistant to Charlie Hills before coming to the notice of the Grand National-winning trainer, Dr Newland. The new partners, like another jump specialist Warren Greatrex and his stable owners Jim and Claire Bryce, have made a great start to training on the flat.

The 2023 haul of twenty or so yearlings included 19 who went through a sales ring. The Sottsass filly was the most expensive, but they have certainly given themselves a chance with the average price at around the 50k mark. Greatrex’s story differs as their juveniles were acquired at breeze-up sales this year.

Sottsass stands at €25k at Coolmore, a similar figure to what Galileo was standing for after his first season’s runners had been on the track.

I’ve mentioned many times the Royal Ascot card when eight of his first-crop three-year-olds competed in five different races on the same day. Just because Galileo had been a Derby, Irish Derby and King George winner, it still wasn’t guaranteed that the Coolmore partners who owned him would immediately dominate ownership of the mares sent to him. Each of the eight horses that ran on that Friday at Ascot had a different trainer and all bar one had been through the sales.

Red Rocks and Sixties Icon were second and third in the King Edward VII Stakes, trained respectively by Brian Meehan and Jeremy Noseda. Sixties Icon went on to win that year’s St Leger, Red Rocks the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The Queen’s Vase, then a two-mile race for three-year-olds, featured Galient in second for Michael Jarvis and fourth-placed Road To Mandalay, running in the Michael Tabor colours after being bought for 420 grand at the sales from Timmy Hyde’s Camas Park stud. He was the lone O’Brien runner from the octet. Kassiopeia, bought in by his vendor for 195,000 gns, was unplaced for Mick Channon.

While the Dermot Weld home-bred filly Nightime ran poorly in the Coronation Stakes, she thrived later in her career. At stud, she is notable as being the dam of world champion Gaiyyath, coincidentally a stallion also making a halting start to his new career for the boys in blue.

Two further competitors on the day were Lake Poet, trained by Clive Brittain (57k) and fourth in the King George V Handicap, and the unplaced The Last Drop (75k) for Barry Hills. All top trainers and it wasn’t until the exploits of the unbeaten champion two-year-old Teofilo for Jim Bolger that the die was effectively cast and the bulk of the Galileos stayed at home.

Sottsass raced for one of the semi-inner circle at Coolmore. Peter Brant bought the colt for €340k at the Arqana Deauville August yearling sale in 2017 and sent him to be trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. After his spectacular exploits on the track, Brant chose to send him to stand at Coolmore with his good friends Messrs Magnier, Tabor and Smith. He is in several of the Coolmore racing partnerships too – often those that run in his green colours.

You would think that the Sottsass progeny would appear in the list of Aidan O’Brien juveniles. They do, but only once, a colt out of a Hat Trick (Japanese) mare. He was bought in partnership by Brant and M V Magnier at the same Deauville August Arqana sale last year for €380k.

Just because a horse has great form it doesn’t follow automatically that he will be a top stallion, or indeed be given preferential treatment before he shows himself deserving of it. No Nay Never and Wootton Bassett, two of the rising, indeed arrived already, stars at Coolmore both needed to show that they had what it takes. Then the boys go full bore, even buying Wootton Bassett when it was evident there was promise aplenty to come.

I’m not sure how Sam Sangster managed to get the half-brother to three useful winners trained by Richard Hannon (two) and William Haggas for just the stallion’s covering price, but it says for the umpteenth time he knows what’s he’s doing. Why not? It’s bred in him, and Brian, a dual Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer, fits into the profile so well.

The second of Brian’s Breeders’ Cup Turf wins came with Dangerous Midge and, after more than a ten-year gap, those colours of Iraj Parvizi have returned with a vengeance with Jayarebe. The Royal Ascot winner might not have been able to handle Economics in France last time, but not many horses will.

As to fellow Royal Ascot winner Rashabar, he showed his class and potential for the future when only narrowly edged out by an inspired Ryan Moore on Whistlejacket in the Prix Morny at Deauville last month.

Rashabar had the worst of the draw that time too, coming very wide up the middle of the track, probably not near enough to respond to the O’Brien-trained winner as he might have done if they had been racing closer together. Brian said on Saturday after Law Of Design’s win that Rashabar will probably go next to the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at the Arc meeting next month.

As to Law Of Design, the future is looking bright. With both horses – for now – still in the Manton Thoroughbreds ownership, they will need to avoid each other, although their stamina profiles are very different.

There’s no chance of a UK Classic campaign for him as he is a gelding, but the way in which he drew away in the last furlong at Ascot – two and a half lengths, the official margin, looked nearer four! - he could be a major player at a mile next time, and over a mile and a half next year! Play it again, Sam – and Brian, of course.

- TS



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Rashabar team looking forward to next step after Morny near-miss

Rashabar is to step up to seven furlongs on his next start, with a 2000 Guineas tilt in May the long-term plan for the Royal Ascot hero.

A shock 80-1 winner of the Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting, Brian Meehan’s son of Holy Roman Emperor fell agonisingly short of giving his Manton-based handler a third success in the Prix Morny when narrowly failing to reel in Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket at Deauville earlier this month.

However, having finished strongly on the Normandy coast and following encouragement from big-race pilot Sean Levey, his team are keen not only to stretch their colt out in distance but continue campaigning at the highest level, with elite options both in Ireland and France on the radar.

“There’s a fair few options, but we will be sticking in Group One company,” said Sam Sangster, manager for owners Manton Thoroughbreds.

“Sean was absolutely gutted when he got off him in the Morny and felt he was the moral winner. There’s no hiding places though in Group Ones and he is more than worth his place in whichever Group One we run in next.

“He hasn’t turned a hair to be honest and has come back from Deauville the same weight he went over there. He is a very cool horse to deal with.”

Sporting the famous green and blue colours of the late Robert Sangster, the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 15 is high up on Rashabar’s list of possibilities, as is a trip to ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

The Rashabar team after the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot
The Rashabar team after the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Sangster continued: “I had a meeting with Brian and we decided to take a good long look at the National Stakes and we really feel a step up to seven furlongs will suit him.

“He did the quickest sectionals in the final two furlongs of the Prix Morny and just looks like a horse that will benefit from a step up and he should suit the Curragh.

“We also have in mind that the Lagardere is there a little later on. The three races we have in mind are the National Stakes, Lagardere and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and if you were working back from the Breeders’ Cup it would then be one of the others.”

Rashabar returns to the winner's enclosure at Royal Ascot
Rashabar returns to the winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

A trip to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup has often been mentioned in discussions surrounding Rashabar’s programme but depending on the outcome of his next race, Stateside ambitions may be tempered in order to preserve Classic aspirations next season.

“We feel he is a horse that is not just going to be limited to a two-year-old campaign, he is a horse who is going to keep improving,” Sangster added.

“Whatever happens in his next run we will hopefully be thinking the Guineas is well within his remit after that, and whether or not we go to Del Mar, the steer will be towards the Guineas if we think he’s good enough and at the moment we do think we have the right horse.”



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All eyes will be on Economics at Deauville on Thursday

Dante winner Economics takes on Royal Ascot hero Jayarebe as the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano throws up a mouthwatering midweek treat at Deauville on Thursday.

The William Haggas-trained Economics was a six-length winner York’s Derby trial in mid-May, but connections resisted the temptation to head to Epsom and he has since enjoyed a mid-season break.

Potential returns to the Knavesmire for last month’s York Stakes and the Juddmonte International next week were considered, but the Night Of Thunder colt instead cross the Channel for a second Group Two assignment, and Haggas could not be happier with his condition.

“He’s fine and is on his way to Deauville as we speak,” the trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“We looked at the York Stakes at the end of July but he wasn’t ready for that, so it was either this or the Juddmonte and we preferred to have a go against the three-year-olds.

“He’s still relatively inexperienced. As promising as he might look, he’s still only run three races in his life, so we thought the Juddmonte might be quite a hard ask for a horse first time out for a while.

“He’s a pretty nice horse, I haven’t been looking very hard to see how good he is because that’s not the way we like to do it, but he does everything very easily, he’s pretty fit and I’m very much looking forward to getting him back on track – I can’t wait really.”

Economics was far too good for his rivals at York
Economics was far too good for his rivals at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Economics holds entries in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot, but Haggas is not looking beyond this week’s assignment.

He added: “I tend not to want to predict what might happen later on or where he might go, I want to get this first hurdle out of the way, but he’s in every smart race at a mile and a quarter that you can imagine and he’ll be aiming at one of those if he’s good enough.”

While Economics was brilliant in the Dante, he did return to the winner’s enclosure with blood in his nose, leaving some to question whether he had burst blood vessels.

Haggas, though, is putting the issue down to him banging his head on the starting stalls, saying: “We think that’s what happened, but we take no chances with him obviously.

“We had a few issues in the spring with that sort of thing, but he’s absolutely fine and we scope him every time he works and we haven’t seen a trace of blood, so that doesn’t concern us at the moment.

“What concerns me personally is how tight the ground might be for him (at Deauville). He’s a great big horse and it’s going to be quick ground, but he’s got to run so we’ll need to get on with it.

“He’s a beautiful looking horse and everything he has done so far has pleased us. He had a gallop at the racecourse at Newmarket about 10 days ago and he looked really good, so I’m really happy with him.”

Jayarebe made an excellent start to his three-year-old campaign by winning Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes, but was then beaten into third place as hot favourite for the Dee Stakes at Chester.

He got back on winning trail when repelling the late surge of King’s Gambit in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting, though, and trainer Brian Meehan is looking forward to his trip to France ahead of a likely tilt at Breeders’ Cup glory later in the year.

He said: “He’s great, really happy with him. He seems like he’s improved, he’s in tremendous form.

“Every race is a tough race, but I didn’t feel he had a particularly hard race (at Ascot). I considered the Eclipse, which was a couple of weeks later and it was only the (soft) ground that put us off running there.

“He’s taken a nice, gradual increase in class as he’s progressed and this was kind of a very obvious next step for him, staying in his own age group. The York Stakes was a consideration, he’d have been taken on a few older horses there, and this was always the most sensible route to take with him.

“The plan has always been to take him to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar. Depending on what happens on Thursday, where to take him in between is a bit of a dilemma, but saying that I’d be happy to not run him again until the Breeders’ Cup.

“He’s got a good travelling speed. The track at Del Mar is maybe not the ideal track for him, but he has got a good racing pace and he’s just really straightforward and a good galloper and I think extra two furlongs on that particular day would be ideal as well.”

Almaqam (left) on his way to victory at Sandown
Almaqam (left) on his way to victory at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

Economics and Jayarebe are two of seven runners declared for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, with Ed Walker’s Almaqam a third British raider.

The Lope De Vega colt readily accounted for the smart Kikkuli in Sandown’s Heron Stakes on his penultimate start, but having since been beaten into sixth in the St James’s Palace Stakes, he steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time.

The pick of the home team looks to be Bright Picture, who has won four of his five starts to date for Andre Fabre.

His only defeat came at the hands of Calandagan in the spring and he has since registered a clear-cut victory in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud.



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Kathmandu ‘in good shape’ for Oak Tree assignment

Brian Meehan considers Wednesday’s Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood as a “logical” target for his French 1,000 Guineas runner-up Kathmandu.

Successful on her second and final juvenile start at Southwell, the daughter of Showcasing kicked off her Classic campaign by finishing third as a 40-1 shot in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket.

Meehan’s filly proved that effort was no fluke when beaten just a head by Rouhiya in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp on her next start and subsequently returned to France to finish fifth against the colts in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.

Kathmandu drops down to Group Three level and goes back against her own sex on the Sussex Downs and Meehan is keeping his fingers crossed she can enjoy a well-deserved day in the sun.

“It’s the right race for her and she’s in good shape. It makes sense to run here, it’s logical I think,” said the trainer.

“We’re not sure what the weather is going to do but that’s Goodwood really and we’re happy with everything. She couldn’t be better.”

Kathmandu is unlikely to have things all her own way, with Roger Varian’s Jabaara also bringing Group One form to the table, having chased home Porta Fortuna in the Falmouth Stakes earlier in the month.

That effort represented a considerable step forward for the youngster following back-to-back Listed wins at Musselburgh and Carlisle in June.

Jabaara won the Eternal Stakes at Carlisle under James Doyle
Jabaara won the Eternal Stakes at Carlisle under James Doyle (Ashley Iveson/PA)

“She’s in good form and I think she will like the test of the Oak Tree,” said Varian.

“She is drawn a bit wide, which is a slight negative, but I think she is in good condition and she’s in good order, so hopefully she will put in another strong performance.

“The Falmouth is often an opportunity where there isn’t a big field and Donnacha’s filly (Porta Fortuna) was very good and Jabaara was best of the rest, which represents solid form and she should be suited by the return to seven furlongs.”

Ryan Moore takes the ride aboard the Richard Hughes-trained Fair Angellica, who he steered to a Listed win at Deauville three and a half weeks ago.

“It’s an open race but she did it well for me in Deauville last time and hopefully she will be just as effective on the expected quick ground around here, though there is some rain forecast on Wednesday and it was good ground in France. She already has a decent form chance,” Moore told Betfair.



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York and Deauville options for Eclipse absentee Jayarebe

Brian Meehan is eyeing a trip to either Deauville or York next month with Coral-Eclipse absentee Jayarebe.

The three-year-old son of Zoffany secured a Group Three success at Royal Ascot when holding off King’s Gambit to claim the Hampton Court Stakes.

He was set to try and give Meehan a second Eclipse victory by emulating David Junior’s heroics from 18 years ago, but connections cited unsuitable soft ground at Sandown as the reason he was pulled out of a clash with City Of Troy.

With a Feilden Stakes triumph also on his CV this season, Jayarebe is still expected to be aimed high on his next outing, with the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano or the Sky Bet York Stakes under consideration, both at Group Two level over 10 furlongs.

When asked at Deauville about possible upcoming engagements, Meehan told Sky Sports Racing: “The race here on the 15th of August, the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, or there’s also a race at York at the end of July.

“I’m not sure that soft ground would have inconvenienced him but we’ve been taking it nice and steady, race by race, with him, so I didn’t want to take the chance against City Of Troy.

“I’m sure the ground probably wouldn’t inconvenience him but we’ll wait for that later in the season.”



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Rashabar set to be Prix Morny bound

A tilt at the Prix Morny has been identified as the “obvious target” for Coventry Stakes hero Rashabar, as Sam Sangster has expressed his pride in seeing his family’s famous colours return to the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure.

The late Robert Sangster’s silks were carried to victory by such luminaries as The Minstrel, Golden Fleece, Rodrigo De Triano and many, many others down the years, and were making a welcome return to the big stage as Brian Meehan’s son of Holy Roman Emperor sprang an 80-1 shock.

Despite such long odds and heading into the race as a maiden, connections were optimistic about their chances and although many would have been surprised by the outcome, those closest to the colt were not, as racing temporarily went back in time and the Sangster name was once again up in lights.

“It came as a surprise, but it wasn’t a surprise at the same time,” said Sangster, manager for owners Manton Thoroughbreds.

“We went into the race full of confidence, really from Newbury (on debut), that he was the right sort of horse for the race. Everything at Chester didn’t really go to plan with the draw and the way he was slowly away, but he did the fastest sectional in the final furlong.

“Sean Levey made an interesting point that going round Chester is like having two runs and he was quite right as the horse came on mentally and as long as Brian and the team were happy, it was always all systems go.”

He went on: “It was an incredible day and a proud moment for me to have a winner on the big stage in dad’s silks.

Sam Sangster (centre) collects the trophy with connections at Royal Ascot
Sam Sangster (centre) collects the trophy with connections at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“It was a very special moment to have that winner knowing what those colours mean to people both inside and outside of racing.

“The warmth I felt from inside the racing community and those outside was something very, very special and something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

The Sangster silks have also been worn by some of the greatest jockeys to grace the sport and it was somewhat fitting that Billy Loughnane, highlighted by many as the next star of the weighing room, was adorned in green and blue as he got off the mark at the Royal meeting.

For Rashabar though, it looks like a trip to Deauville on August 18 for the Prix Morny next, where he would have the chance to give Meehan a third success in the six-furlong Group One following the victories of Bad As I Wanna Be (2000) and Arcano (2009).

Billy Loughnane after riding Rashabar to victory in the Coventry
Billy Loughnane after riding Rashabar to victory in the Coventry (John Walton/PA)

“I sent Billy a message that night to say I was very honoured to be a small stepping stone to a very bright future,” continued Sangster.

“Rashabar gets a free entry into the Phoenix Stakes and he has an entry in the National Stakes. But for me the obvious target, all being well, is to go to France for the Prix Morny.

“He carries the French premiums and so you are talking about a very big pot and it is a well-known stomping ground for horses that have come out of the Coventry and it is also a stallion-making race, which is what we are dreaming of with him.”



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Jayarebe holds off King’s Gambit for Hampton Court triumph

Jayarebe repelled the late thrust of hot favourite King’s Gambit to secure victory in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

So impressive when winning the London Gold Cup at Newbury last month, King’s Gambit was a 2-1 market leader to successfully graduate to Group Three level under William Buick, but a tardy start put him on the back foot from the off and he was still last of all rounding the home turn.

After taking a while to find top gear once in the clear, King’s Gambit was flying at the finish, but it was too little, too late and he had to make do with the runner-up spot.

Jayarebe (7-1), who dominated his rivals in Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes before being beaten as a warm order for the Dee Stakes at Chester, was always handily positioned by Sean Levey and dug deep after hitting the front early in the straight to hold off King’s Gambit by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Brian Meehan was landing his second winner of the week following the shock 80-1 victory of Rashabar in Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes, with Levey also doubling his tally following Rosallion’s St James’s Palace Stakes triumph on the same afternoon.

“He’s been doing all the right things at home. Chester didn’t suit him, he’s got a huge stride, I think it’s something like 26ft, which is a massive stride for a horse like this,” said the jockey.

“We know he stays, I got a great break from stall 12 and I committed early because I knew he’d stay strong to the line.

“Do you know what, it’s having the horses that have a chance of winning. They are so hard to find here, it’s so competitive.

“So far, so good; two big chances have won and there are still chances to come, so fingers crossed.”

Meehan said: “He was sitting third and Sean was able to get a breather in and that was key, it never happened at Chester and that was his undoing, along with the track, he didn’t like the track.

Royal Ascot 2024 – Day Three – Ascot Racecourse
Sean Levey aboard Jayarebe after winning the Hampton Court Stakes (John Walton/PA).

“Today, Sean had to be forceful to get the position, but once he did, Sean was able to take back, have a little breather and that man is riding out of his skin at the moment, it is so impressive.

“He knows the horse inside out and comes in every week and rides work. It was the same as Rosallion earlier in the week, it was a wonderful ride.”

He added of Jayarebe: “He’s getting better and is still lightly raced. With practice, he is improving and the red hood was a good addition today. It’s more about curbing his exuberance, but when we were saddling, he was calm and we’re going in the right direction.

“What more does he have to do and at this stage he is on the up. This was always the plan – it was Newmarket, Chester, then here. I always said to his owner that we would then explore an autumn campaign and then look at some of the international races for him.

“The Eclipse is a possibility as well, but we will see how he is and I’ll talk to Sean.”

On King’s Gambit, Harry Charlton said: “It looked like a disaster from furlong one – we were in the worst possible position on this round course, and he’s run monstrously well to get anywhere near them.

“You can see how good he is, and we’ll enjoy him down the line.”



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Rashabar hangs for victory in thrilling Coventry Stakes

Rashabar held off the late challenge of Wathnan Racing duo Electrolyte and Columnist to claim the Coventry Stakes in a desperately tight finish, in the process returning some very famous silks to the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure.

Brian Meehan’s charge had not managed to get his head in front in his first two appearances, despite promising displays at Newbury and Chester, but the Holy Roman Emperor colt – in the colours associated for so long with the late Robert Sangster – had just enough in the tank to score as an 80-1 winner by a nose.

Under the guidance of teenager Billy Loughnane, Rashabar led a group of eight on the far rail, bursting ahead inside the final furlong and stretching his advantage to over a length as he looked to have a clear route to the finishing line.

Billy Loughnane celebrates with Rashabar in the famous winner's enclosure
Billy Loughnane celebrates with Rashabar in the famous winner’s enclosure (PA)

Electrolyte (Hollie Doyle) and Columnist (Oisin Orr) finished strongly, however, and rapidly reduced Rashabar’s lead, but the winning post came just in time as Loughnane, 18, celebrated his first career winner at the Royal meeting by the smallest of margins.

Meehan said: “Dare I say it, it’s not a huge surprise. He’s felt very good since Chester, everything has gone very well with him throughout. Sean Levey said that when a horse runs around Chester it’s like having two runs, they learn so much, especially a two-year-old that had only run once before.

“We’ve felt really good the past few weeks, we were always aiming for here. There was a thought in my head throughout that he was never going to be a five-furlong horse, but we want to get two runs for our two-year-olds before Ascot. I didn’t think he’d win over five, but he ran very well, better than I thought, and at Chester he was badly drawn and had he not missed the break he’d have won. The form has worked out very well.

“We’re very lucky that we get to use Billy when we can. He’s a great kid with a lovely way about him, he’s wonderful with people and the world is his oyster.”

Asked how special it was to win the race with a horse carrying these colours, Meehan said: “It is. You can try to keep a lid on things now, but we’ll draw breath in an hour or so and take some pleasure out of it.

“Right now it’s just about showing what we can do, the team at home, the early mornings, the late nights, everything that’s done, the talking, the thinking and the working it out. It’s just very special.

Looking to future plans, Meehan said: “We shall see. I’ve always liked the idea of the Prix Morny, the July Stakes would be too soon, the Richmond is attractive. Obviously we have to think about Group One races… maybe a Breeders’ Cup by the end of the year.”

Loughnane said: “It’s an amazing feeling, to be doing it so young is massive. I was second in one of the races last year, I was beaten a couple of lengths, it was hard as I’m so young and it was my first Ascot, but when I look back on it it was a great achievement to even be riding at Ascot at 17 years old.

“What a feeling today, I’ll try to savour every moment.

“I’ve worn these silks a few times, I’ve ridden quite a bit for Brian and Manton, they’re colours with a deep history and to be able to put them on is a great achievement.”

Rashabar runs in the name of Manton Thoroughbreds, and Sangster’s son, Sam, was emotional as he said: “I’m pretty much in tears behind my sunglasses, it was amazing. Brian has believed in the horse from day one and I really did feel we had a big chance.

“There was a reason I set the syndicate up 10 years ago, to keep the colours going. We have a lot of runners, it’s been fantastic in the last couple of years. We had Isaac Shelby last year and this fellow this year. I’m a bit lost for words and emotional, especially when you talk about the colours and my old man.”

Archie Watson said of the runner-up: “I got beat a neck across the track in the race with Army Ethos last year and we’ve got beat a nose in the race across the track this year.

“I guess it’s fantastic to be sent these horses from Wathnan, he ran a huge race and he’s going to be a proper two-year-old. I’m gutted, but delighted – the main thing is the horse ran well.

“I guess James (Doyle) had the choice between the three (Wathnan horses) and that had a bearing on his odds, but I think we’ve now had a third, a winner and two seconds in this race in the last three years.”

Richard Fahey’s Columnist was the third horse, and Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown added: “It’s Archie I feel sorry for, but both have run fantastic races and we’re delighted.

“There’s a good team here from Qatar and none of us are under any illusions about how tough it is to win at Ascot and that race goes to show it.

“Well done to Brian Meehan and his team, it was a great race and ours have performed with great credit. It’s mixed emotions, but we’ve got two very nice horses to look forward to.

“This project isn’t just about Ascot, it’s also about the future and that shows we have two nice horses to go to war with for the rest of the season.”



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Monday Musings: Brian’s Back

They say you can’t keep a good man down, writes Tony Stafford. Well, I promise you, if that good man has a chosen profession as a racehorse trainer, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. Simply cut off his access to horses of talent and potential and he’s gone in a year.

Some, often against their better judgment (not to say their other halves and more importantly their bank managers) can struggle on with diminishing returns and in many ways embarrassment at to where they have slipped. The always fashion-fickle world of racing is quick to dismiss them, forgetting the knowledge in forging those fantastic careers they already have on their record.

Thank heaven, then, for the Racing Post which retains such a history in its Big Race wins section under each trainer’s statistics. One of the mostly forgotten, but now bouncing back with renewed vigour and optimism is Brian Meehan, who can point to three full pages under his name, that is were it not for his modest character.

I’ve known Brian for a long time, seen his traditional Thursday galloping days at first hand for several years and always admired the ability to assess a trio or quartet of horses flashing past right in front of his nose. I’m sure every successful trainer in the country has that facility, but Brian has it in spades.

Trawling back through those Racing Post lists, it is striking just how successful he was in training two-year-olds, then equally how adeptly he developed middle-distance horses. Red Rocks (from Galileo’s first crop) and Dangerous Midge won at the Breeders’ Cup, and another globe-trotter, David Junior, picked up a host of races with the massive prize of the Dubai Duty Free in one of the early editions of the Dubai Carnival.

Then owners either aged and cut back, or of course sadly died, inevitable over a 30-plus year career. Where he used to manage up to 140 horses in the period of his biggest achievements in the first decade of this century, the numbers ebbed away.

Results too, so last year for the first time, nine wins represented a nadir. Then again, he still produced the Sam Sangster buy Isaac Shelby to win the Greenham Stakes, then finish a close runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas before being sold lucratively (to stay in the yard) to Wathnan Racing.

Isaac Shelby has yet to reappear, but a couple of this year’s crop have already moved onto the big-time scene. Jayarebe won the Group 3 Feilden Stakes in the manner of a high-class performer last month. He disappointed at Chester next time, but it would be a mistake to condemn him for that as plenty of horses struggle around the Roodee.

Incidentally, the vastly experienced and accurate commentator Mike Cattermole showed at the meeting that anyone can make a mistake. Mike referred during one race there as being on Town Moor – an extreme blip in Mike’s case as two tracks could hardly more different than the one-mile round of Chester and the extreme gallop of Doncaster’s Town Moor, almost twice its circumference.

As I hinted earlier, Brian quickly won such races as the Prix Morny with Bad As I Wanna Be and the Cheveley Park with Donna Blini. Incidentally, Donna Blini, winner of three from four as a juvenile didn’t stay the 1000 Guineas trip, finishing last to Speciosa, and had just one more win, over five furlongs at the Newmarket July meeting. She was to have a much bigger part to play, though, in the international scene than anyone could have believed.

Sold for 500k to Katsumi Yoshida, that was only the beginning of her story. In Japan, one of her first matings, to the immortal Deep Impact, produced the filly Gentildonna, winner of nine of her 17 races. Two of them, at age three and four, were in the Japan Cup, Japan’s greatest race, the second time ridden by Ryan Moore. In all she won £12 million in stakes, also beating the top-class French gelding Cirrus Des Aigles in the Sheema Classic in Dubai.

I’m sure Brian’s career and optimism have been saved for a large part by Robert Sangster’s second-youngest son, Sam, still only in his early 30’s. He resolved to use his many connections to set up Manton Thoroughbreds, selling shares in yearlings which he and Brian had sourced at the sales. Initially, the prices were modest (mostly around 50k), but now the odd six-figure sum has been creeping in as the team has become more confident.

On Saturday at Newmarket – always one of Brian’s favourite tracks – his newcomer Invincible Song, a 140,000gns acquisition, showed excellent speed before being overtaken by Ascot-bound Godolphin homebred Mountain Breeze, who had the benefit of an earlier win on the course.

Invincible Song, by Invincible Spirit, flashed that speed but also inexperience almost in equal measure, making the running while edging first right then left. She kept on nicely in this valuable (20k to the winner, almost five grand for third) fillies’ race. She will step up on that.

Twenty-four hours earlier at local track Newbury could have been a day of days for the Manton stable. It started with the unraced Organ. Condemned to the unfavoured one draw in a field of 22, he kept pace with the leaders on the stands side and was only edged out late from second into fourth place close to home. Had he been anyway near decently drawn, he might well have won the race – at 80/1!

The decision of Martyn Meade, to hand in his training licence and concentrate on his stallion operation, brought Organ and around nine others of his team to Brian. Meade is the owner of the 3,000-acre estate where Ollie Sangster, Sam’s nephew but in age almost a contemporary, has made such a bright start.

So, you ask, what was special about an 80/1 fourth, however unlucky. I’ll tell you. Half an hour later, Monkey Island, reappearing for the first time in 2024 having had a gelding operation, made all the running over the straight seven furlongs, winning at, you guessed it, 80/1. If Organ had won, that’s a 6,560/1 double. The place part at 288/1 would have been highly acceptable – it was for a couple of my pals who had their bet with a bookie paying out on the first four. Grr!

Last weekend, for the second year in a row, Meehan went very close to winning a French one-mile Classic. His filly, Kathmandu, a 50k buy for Sam and one he’s kept a half-interest in along with raffia-furniture magnate Ed Babington, was caught in the last strides at Longchamp.

I reckoned the Coronation Stakes would be the obvious target but when I looked, having hastily added the words to last week’s missive as I’d unbelievably been oblivious to the race, her only Royal Ascot entry was in the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs.

Brian said she would probably miss both, settling on the Prix Jean Prat, a Group 1 race for three-year-old colts and fillies over 1400 metres (seven furlongs) at Deauville, the week after Ascot. “She almost made it at Longchamp”, said Brian. “But she’ll never get up the hill for the last furlong at Ascot”. No stranger to the three-year-old Group 1 races at the Royal meeting, Meehan won the St James’s Palace Stakes with Most Improved.

I also made a nonsense of Roger Teal’s plans for his French 2,000 Guineas runner-up Dancing Gemini, a strong runner into second behind Metropolitan. Of course, Mr Obvious suggested the St James’s Palace would be the way to go. Speaking to him the following day, he said: “I had a word with Aidan (O’Brien) and he said that breeding never lies.
“He’s by Camelot and never mind the fact that Aidan always wants to win it for Coolmore and at the time had the favourite, he encouraged me to go to Epsom. I’m torn between the Derby and the Prix du Jockey Club over 10.5 furlongs the following day at Chantilly.”

Last Thursday’s Dante Stakes set the cat among the Derby pigeons, Economics showing not a glimmer of economy in slaughtering his opponents including the prominent in ante post betting Arabian Wisdom. Economics’s trainer William Haggas had taken the big colt out of the Derby believing the track would not suit him and, despite the manner of his victory, his opinion hasn’t changed though he fears the decision will be taken out of his hands. I know whose opinion I’d be listening to!

The day before was a red-letter day for the Meades’ stallion Advertise. I had sat enjoying the excellent lunch in the York owners’ room before racing with a well-known and long-established bloodstock agent referring to Advertise, top-class sprinter as a racehorse, as unlikely to make much of a stallion.

Less than two hours later, after Advertise’s daughter Secret Satire had bolted up in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at 22/1, we exchanged a few smiles as the Andrew Balding filly returned to unsaddle. It’s always dangerous to have an entrenched position in racing and good luck to the Meades who also stand Aclaim.

- TS



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Sangster upbeat despite Kathmandu’s narrow Classic eclipse

Sam Sangster was left beaming with pride after Kathmandu’s agonising near-miss in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and is backing his star filly to continue to shine in the family’s famous emerald green and blue silks this season.

Trained by Brian Meehan at the Sangster family’s historic Manton Estate, the daughter of Showcasing was making just her fourth racecourse appearance in the ParisLongchamp Classic.

Buoyed by an encouraging third in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket and a helpful draw, connections headed to the French capital full of optimism where Kathmandu proved she remains an improving filly to outrun market expectation and be denied by just a head.

Kathmandu was an honourable second at ParisLongchamp
Kathmandu was an honourable second at ParisLongchamp (PA)

“From where I was standing, I thought she was going to get it and she put in such a valiant effort,” said Sangster, who owns Kathmandu alongside Ed Babington.

“For a filly making just her fourth start and her first in a Group One, she just seems to be on an upwards curve.

“It was a genius ride from Sean Levey and Brian Meehan and his team are so good at travelling horses all around the world, so we had every confidence going into the race she was going to be up for it. When the draw came out we felt more confident and the way she was leading into the race, we were just gaining more and more confidence and definitely didn’t have her down at 66-1.”

Sangster’s late father Robert enjoyed untold success as an owner, and Kathmandu’s display in Paris appears to have earned the three-year-old filly the chance to continue representing the family at the highest level over the coming months.

She holds an entry for the Commonwealth Cup back down at six furlongs at Royal Ascot, with the Jersey Stakes another possible option at the Berkshire track’s summer showpiece, while a return to France for the seven-furlong Prix Jean Prat could also be on the cards.

“We can look forward to a fun season and we might have to box a little clever as there isn’t a huge amount of options in the fillies-only division,” continued Sangster.

“I think at some point we’re going to have to take on the colts and whether that is at Royal Ascot in the Jersey or the Commonwealth, or we could head back to France for the Prix Jean Prat.

“She holds an entry in the Commonwealth Cup and a stiff six (furlongs) could be an option. We will see how things pan out, we’ll enter her for the Jean Prat next week and then have a good look at all her options.

“Brian is a man who likes to have many options at his fingertips and we’ll bear the entry fees now as she deserves the money being spent on her.”

Last year Sangster watched Isaac Shelby win the Greenham before going down in similar fashion to Kathmandu, having been sold to the burgeoning Wathnan Racing, in the French 2000 Guineas.

Brian Meehan is responsible for training Kathmandu
Brian Meehan is responsible for training Kathmandu (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Hopes are now high Kathmandu can become a standard-bearer not just for her trainer Meehan, but also for the Sangster family colours that were once a common sight on a racecourse, as they begin to become more noticeable once again.

Sangster continued: “Isaac wasn’t in the colours last year (at ParisLongchamp), but he did win in them in the Greenham before going down last year in the colts’ division. Standing in the same spot this year in dad’s colours certainly carried a hell of a lot of pride, I can promise you that.

“We’re knocking on the door and we’ve got a lot of nice stock and some smart two-year-olds in the Manton Thoroughbreds partnerships and I think there are nine horses in training that run in the colours this year, as well as a few bits and pieces I’m involved with.

“Ollie Sangster has a number in his yard too now he is training as well and the numbers that run in the colours are growing and it is just lovely for the whole family to see.”



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