Apr 2024
Stars of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes
The Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes is one of the key Classic trials of the Flat season for colts and has been the stepping stone to stardom for many.
First established in 1906, the seven-furlong race takes place on the Saturday of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend at Newbury. The Group 3 contest has an illustrious roll of honour with multiple Group 1 winners, Champion Miler and Champion Sprinter amongst them. The Greenham Stakes also features on the form of some of the great sires, notably Kingman and Frankel.
#1 – Kingman (2014)
Kingman, trained by John Gosden for the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, only ran twice as a two-year-old – both starts he won in decisive fashion including the Group 3 Solario Stakes.
He returned after a break of 224 days to be sent off 15/8 favourite in the 2014 renewal of the Greenham Stakes. The son of Invincible Spirit pulled clear under James Doyle to land an impressive four and a half-length victory over Night of Thunder.
The pair would meet again only a matter of weeks later in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas where Night of Thunder reversed the form.
This would be the only defeat of Kingman’s career as he went on to win four consecutive Group 1’s before retiring to stud as Champion three-year old.
Kingman has since sired 10 Group 1 winners including 2021 Al Shaqab Lockinge winner Palace Pier.
Click below to watch Kingman win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
#2 – Muhaarar (2015)
Muhaarar, trained by Charlie Hills, was the second string of the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in the 2015 Greenham Stakes.
Sent off at odds of 16/1 under Frankie Dettori, the son of Oasis Dream beat first string Estidhkaar by a neck.
He stepped up in trip to a mile following his Greenham victory which resulted in a disappointing run in the French 2000 Guineas before cementing himself as a top-class sprinter.
A return to six furlongs saw Muhaarar record four consecutive Group 1 victories including the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup, Prix Maurice de Gheest and QIPCO British Champions Sprint.
He retired to stud at the end of his three-year-old campaign as Champion Sprinter of 2015. Muhaarar has since sired 44 flat stakes performers including 12 Group winners, notably 2023 Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi.
Click below to watch Muhaarar win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
#3 – Barney Roy (2017)
Barney Roy, trained by Richard Hannon Jr and owned by Godolphin, won his only race as a juvenile in 2016 before emerging as a top-class performer in the following year.
In the Greenham Stakes he was piloted by James Doyle, tracking the leaders before overtaking Dream Castle to assume the lead inside the final furlong.
After his win in the Greenham Stake, he finished second in the 2000 Guineas before recording his biggest victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
He went on to finish second in the Eclipse Stakes and third in the International Stakes before being retired to stud at the end of the year. His spell at stud showed he was infertile so he was gelded and he returned to racing in the 2019 season.
As a gelding in 2020 he recorded victories in the Al Rashidiya, Jebel Hatta, Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and Grosser Preis von Baden, totalling over £1.2m in prize money.
Click below to watch Barney Roy win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
#4 – Perfect Power (2022)
Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Perfect Power stepped up to seven furlongs for the first time in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
It was the three-year-old’s first race of the season, where he picked up nicely to go past the early leader.
Lusail came through to give chase but the winner was always doing enough and held on to score by a length-and-a-half.
Perfect Power won three Group 1’s during his career and became the only horse ever to win three 6f G1s at two and three so early in his career.
Click below to watch Perfect Power win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
#5 – Isaac Shelby (2023)
Isaac Shelby, trained by Brian Meehan and ridden by Sean Levey, won the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes in impressive fashion by three lengths.
The win came as a shock for many as the hot-favourite Chaldean dramatically unseated Frankie Dettori on coming out of the stalls.
Isaac Shelby is yet to secure another win after his victory at Newbury, but has placed in every race he has ran since.
The Night Of Thunder colt has so far earned just short of £380,000.
Click below to watch Isaac Shelby win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
The Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend is the first flat meeting of the 2024 season at Newbury.
This weekend always promises to deliver high quality action on the track and unveil exciting prospects for the Flat season ahead. As well as top quality racing, there is a a bundle of activities and exciting opportunities across both days.
Newbury Racecourse’s craft beer festival returns, featuring over 30 real ale and ciders from local brewers. Visit the beer tent and get the taste buds flowing with a large variety on offer. With live acoustic music throughout the afternoon on Friday and Saturday as well as an afterparty on the Saturday!