Tag Archive for: Merchant

William Haggas ‘gutted’ as setback scuppers Merchant’s Arc hopes

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Merchant will not run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after suffering a setback which will rule him out for the remainder of the season.

The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned colt was a Royal Ascot hero earlier in the summer before following up in the gloom of a rainy Goodwood afternoon in the Gordon Stakes, a battling success that inspired dreams of ParisLongchamp glory this autumn.

The son of Teofilo was due to put his Arc aspirations to the test in the ‘win-and-you’re-in’ Prix Niel this Sunday, but trainer William Haggas has been left “gutted”, as his name was missing from the list of confirmations on Wednesday.

Haggas told the PA news agency: “He’s just met with a little setback so unfortunately he will be out for the rest of the year.

“It was always the plan to go to ParisLongchamp for the Prix Niel but unfortunately we’re not going.

“We feel a bit gutted but sadly that’s just the way it goes.”

Merchant ends his season having won three of his four starts and advanced his career record to four wins from seven.

He has risen to an official rating of 115 thanks to his winning heroics, firstly at York during the Dante meeting and then subsequently in the King George V Stakes and at Goodwood.

Merchant route could encompass York or France

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The Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York or a trip to France for the Prix Niel have been identified as the possible next step for the exciting Merchant.

Trained by William Haggas for the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate, all connected remain on cloud nine after the son of Teofilo followed up his Royal Ascot triumph in a wet and gloomy Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and he will attempt to carry on climbing the middle-distance ladder once recovering from his exertions on the Sussex Downs.

“We’re all so thrilled and everyone is absolutely delighted. It was the most extraordinary day’s racing and we were just relieved he managed to get his nostril in front,” said Highclere’s Harry Herbert.

“He’s having a well-deserved quiet week now and then William will decide, as he sees how the horse has come out of the race, whether we go to the Voltigeur (August 20) or a race like the Prix Niel (September 7) in France.”

The last four Gordon Stakes winners have gone on to contest the St Leger but connections of Merchant were coy on the idea of the Doncaster Classic in the immediate aftermath of his Goodwood triumph.

The colt’s name was a notable omission from the entries for the Town Moor showpiece earlier this week, with his team confirming their initial thought process of remaining at a maximum of a mile and a half for the time being.

Herbert explained: “We have been talking together for some time and sometimes these things are not quite explicable, other than your own gut feeling and that of the trainer as well, and going a mile and six at this time of his career didn’t appear to be in the best interest of the horse going forwards.

Jockey Tom Marquand celebrates after winning aboard Merchant
Jockey Tom Marquand celebrates after winning aboard Merchant (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“Rightly or wrongly we have made that decision and we’ll see how we get on when he steps up another grade next time.”

The St Leger may have been shelved, but Merchant’s Gordon Stakes triumph ignited dreams of a greater prize in the autumn, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe now firmly coming into sight.

Currently without an entry for Europe’s richest middle-distance prize, Merchant still has to convince all associated to stump up the €120,000 required to supplement, but a strong showing in his next outing could see the Highclere team embarking on a voyage to the French capital on October 5.

“When the entries closed for the Arc it would have been absolutely ridiculous as I think he was rated 82 at the time and it’s not something you can enter willy-nilly,” added Herbert.

Tom Marquand aboard Merchant shakes hands with Harry Herbert at Royal Ascot
Tom Marquand aboard Merchant shakes hands with Harry Herbert at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“But having said that, we think the Arc must not be dismissed and, as the fast-improving three-year-old he is, you never know. If it’s not right he won’t run, but if it is and he’s won a Voltigeur or a Prix Niel, then we would absolutely consider it.

“Every race now is exciting and when I looked at him, even in that appalling weather at Goodwood, as he was going round the parade ring before the Gordon, you could see a significant change since Ascot and I think there is significant progression to come.

“He’s in the most capable hands with William and his team and we will keep everything crossed. We’re looking forward to the next step wherever he goes and wherever William thinks is the best option having had that very hard race at Goodwood.”

Merchant sets sail for Gordon success at rain-soaked Goodwood

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Merchant pulled out all the stops to deny Wimbledon Hawkeye in a thrilling finish to the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes in attritional conditions at a gloomy Goodwood.

An impressive winner in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, William Haggas’ improving son of Teofilo was sent off the 6-5 favourite to enhance his growing reputation with a Group Three success.

With the threat of lightning meaning a flag start it was Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon who led them along, with the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned market leader among those held up at the rear of the field along with Aidan O’Brien’s Galveston and Andrew Balding’s recent Sandown winner Windlord.

With the runners edging over to the stands side with the two-furlong pole approaching, it appeared as though James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye would take some reeling in, but Merchant’s jockey Tom Marquand had a brave ally when he needed him, with the colt bridging the deficit to register a nose verdict in the nick of time.

Whether it proves to be at home or abroad, exciting options now await for Merchant, who was bred by Jim Bolger. Doncaster or Paris appears to be the discussion to be had regarding the autumn.

Haggas said: “Tom said he didn’t enjoy the ground, but he kept going and that’s what I like about him the most.

“His temperament is brilliant, he doesn’t give a monkey’s about anything. That is one of his great attributes for the future.

Tom Marquand celebrates after winning the Gordon Stakes
Tom Marquand celebrates after winning the Gordon Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“They all had to cope with the conditions, it was going to be messy whatever happened with the flag start. He’s only won a nose and James’ horse ran a fabulous race.

“He really dug in well, he’s a very good horse. Desert Hero won this race and then ran in the St Leger and I don’t think he was ever quite the same afterwards.

“I’m worried about stretching this horse out to a mile and six too soon, I think he is really a horse for next year, too. We think he’s very good.

“However, if he didn’t like the ground there then he may not like the ground in France in autumn. I’m not saying the Arc is definitely not going to happen, but it’s not definitely not going to happen either.”

Merchant toughed it out
Merchant toughed it out (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Highclere’s Harry Herbert added: “I’m not sure we’ll go for the Leger, the plan – so long as he comes out of this race fine – is to go to York (Great Voltigeur Stakes)

“We’ll see how that goes, if York went well and we had good ground at York we’d see what this horse can do on perfect ground.

“Tom said he was spinning his wheels the whole way, it’s extraordinary that he’s won. If he happened to go through York OK then the trainer has talked more about the Arc, which is quite bold.

“He’s worried about going a mile and six as a three-year-old, he sees him as having a very big future. He’s a master with this type of horse.”

Merchant camp planning to stick to Goodwood route

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Only a dramatic shake-up to the envisaged King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes line-up is likely to tempt connections of Merchant from the path already mapped out for the exciting colt.

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.

“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
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.”

Goodwood set to be next port of call for Merchant

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Merchant is likely to stick to his own age group and tackle the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 31.

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.

Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning the King George V Stakes
Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning the King George V Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“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.”

Merchant overcomes wide draw for King George V glory

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Tom Marquand extricated himself from a difficult position to win the King George V Stakes on Merchant for William Haggas.

Drawn in stall 20, Marquand had chosen to drop in behind horses while Ryan Moore on Serious Contender, who was also posted out wide, opted to go forward.

Moore was still in front as they entered the final furlong but Merchant picked up well to defy an 8lb rise for winning at York last time out and justify 3-1 favouritism by a length, with Pantile Warrior a further neck back in third.

“It was difficult to watch because all I was watching was the time per furlong and they set off like scalded cats,” said Haggas.

“I then thought they hadn’t gone fast enough because in every race this week on the round track, they’ve gone so fast and everything has come off the speed.

“He was plenty far back and I knew when he turned for home he’d be able to sit a bit, I knew he’d come home. I was really pleased with him.

“You hope (they are good enough). He’s clearly progressive and I’m afraid I don’t know how far he will go. It’s extremely exciting.”

Arabian Story provided Saeed bin Suroor with a 40th Royal Ascot winner in a dramatic finish to the Britannia Stakes.

Having just the fourth run of his life and his first on turf, the 15-2 chance had to be brave under Oisin Murphy.

La Botte and Fearnot both threw down late challenges but it was Arabian Story who prevailed by a neck and a head.

Bin Suroor said: “We took him to Dubai and physically he improved a lot. He always works well in the morning and I said to Oisin keep him handy and he gave him a great ride. Oisin is the best – he is world-class and one of the best around.

“He is still improving and it was only his second race in the UK. We’ll have to maybe find a Group race for him now and Oisin said he is definitely a Group horse.

“He’s good at the mile but he could go further, maybe up to a mile and a quarter.”

Never So Brave, trained by the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute in his early days, then provided Murphy with a double in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

Now with Andrew Balding, the 4-1 favourite positively shot clear once a gap appeared on the rail and triumphed by two and a quarter lengths.

Akkadian Thunder ran on for second, with Holguin a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

It was Balding’s 13th winner at the meeting and he said: “He’s a really lovely horse and I think gelding him over the winter has helped him and improved him.

“Sir Michael always had a high opinion of him and he ran here in the Jersey Stakes last year, so I think he was probably a Group horse in a handicap today.

“He settled well today and I think the key is to get him to relax early in his races. He has an excellent turn of foot when you can get him to do that.”