Rashabar On Course For Classic Trial In Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes

Brian Meehan’s Coventry Stakes winner, Rashabar, is on course to make his seasonal reappearance in Saturday’s Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes. The seven-furlong contest, one of three Group 3 races to take place across the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials meeting, is set to be run for an increased total prize fund of £100,000. The other Group 3 races on the card include the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) and the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes).

Rashabar, owned by Manton Thoroughbreds and due to be partnered by Sean Levey, is one of ten declared for the 2025 renewal of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes on Saturday, six of which hold entries in the Betfred 2,000 Guineas. Having ended last season with two second place finishes in the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Meehan is pleased with the son of Holy Roman Emperor ahead of his three-year-old campaign: “We didn’t let him down too much over the winter, he just went steady for a little while in October/November but he has been training well all winter. We are really happy with him. He had a day away at Kempton three or four weeks ago and that went very well and he has just been ticking over very nicely. He has definitely let down and is a little heavier but his enthusiasm is so obvious.”

The Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes, this year taking place three-weeks prior to the first English Classic, the Betfred 2,000 Guineas, is very much being used as a trial for Rashabar, Meehan commented: “The Greenham is a trial, it’s not the big target, it is a stepping stone to the next race which is the important race so you know whether he needs the run or not, I wouldn’t be surprised.

“It was always going to be the Greenham for his trial, its on our doorstep, we are keeping him at 7f for his first run before stepping up to a mile, it makes sense. I wanted to keep him off the dip at the Rowley Mile, the Greenham is down the road, the thing is to try and take as much mystery out of the game as we can so to go to Newbury is far more sensible than going all the way to Newmarket.”

Despite holding entries in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, a potential French campaign may be on the cards for Rashabar, Meehan explained: “At this point in time there has to be an edge towards France, he qualifies for the French premiums and has done a lot of his racing in France so his profile might be a little higher there. We will see what happens on Saturday and make a plan from there.”

Amongst the other declarations include the Charlie Appleby trained Al Rayyan Mile winner, Al Qudra, as well as the Juddmonte owned Jonquil, having his first start for Andrew Balding.

With Field of Gold opting for the Craven Stakes, John and Thady Gosden will be represented by dual winner Chancellor for owners Cheveley Park. Last year’s winning combination of David O’Meara and jockey Daniel Tudhope team up again with Rogue Allegiance, having just his second career start after an impressive victory at Newcastle on debut in December.

Saturday’s card also features the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (The Fred Darling Stakes) in which 16 have been declared, eight of which hold entries in the Betfred 1,000 Guineas. The seven-furlong contest for three-year-old fillies, worth a total prize fund of £85,000, features Jumeirah 1000 Guineas winner, Mountain Breeze, among the declarations. Ollie Sangster’s Moyglare runner up, Simmering, will see Christophe Soumillon come over to ride the daughter of Too Darn Hot for her first run this season. Group 3 Weld Park Stakes winner, Heavens Gate, is Aidan O’Brien’s sole runner across the meeting and will be partnered by Sean Levey. Nardra (W.Haggas), Bright Times Ahead (R.Beckett) and British Blue (R.Hannon) will all be having their second career starts having broken their maiden on the first time of asking.

A field of seven have been declared for the Group 3 John Porter Stakes, headed by the David Menuisier trained Sunway. The 2024 Irish Derby runner up has not been seen since his run in the Qatar Prix l’Arc de Triomphe, he will be ridden by regular rider Oisin Murphy. A Group 1 winner as a two-year-old, the Charlie Appleby trained Ancient Wisdom will have his first run at Newbury under William Buick on Saturday. Others in the field include Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes winner, Bellum Justum (A.Balding), Melrose Handicap winner, Tabletalk (T. Clover) and the only horse to have had a run already this season, Dallas Star (A.Murray).