IT would be fair to say that Chepstow form seldom features in Glorious Goodwood stories.
However, Brian Meehan’s Barraquero had not only thrashed an ordinary field of maidens there, he had filled the minor berth behind Expert Eye when the pair made their debut at Newbury.
With the latter having run out a most impressive winner of the Qatar Vintage Stakes on Tuesday, it was a little surprising that Barraquero started at 4/1 for the Group 2 Richmond Stakes.
He came home an impressive winner, proving too strong for Nebo and with tough and reliable yardstick Cardsharp back in third. The form looks perfectly reliable and makes Expert Eye look the best youngster seen out so far.
Barraquero, by Zebedee out of the Oasis Dream mare Chica Whopa, carries the familiar blue and green colours of the Sangster family, racing as Manton Thoroughbreds II. He is Meehan’s third winner of the Richmond, following Carrizo Creek and Easy Call.
“I am very pleased,” he said.
“The other two were lovely horses but that was then and now is now. I am sure this is a Group 1 horse and he will get further. I’d like to think I can take him to the Prix Morny at Deauville. He’s also in the Gimcrack but the Morny is a race I’d love to go back and try to win again. The Guineas would be the ultimate target.”
Meehan won the Morny with Arcano in 2009 and Bad As I Wanna Be in 2000. He has good reason to feel optimistic, and winning jockey William Buick was also impressed.
“We got a nice bit of cover from the headwind,” he said. “He’ll be a better horse on better ground. He is very quick and has a lot of gears. This is his trip for now and it’s hard to see beyond six furlongs. Expert Eye could go up in trip but this horse looks more of a Prix Morny type.”
Charlie Hills, making no excuses for Nebo, admitted he had ‘bumped into one’. He was inclined to think a return to seven furlongs might be in order, with the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster a possible target.
Cardsharp ran his usual game race but is fully exposed now and could not overcome his 3lb penalty.