Barraquero retired to Claremount Stud, Ireland

Barraquero the emphatic winner of Group 2 Richmond Stakes, Glorious Goodwood we are excited to announce will be standing in 2020 at Claremount Stud, Ireland for a fee of €4,000.

Owned by Manton Thoroughbreds Barraquero started his career at Newbury as a two year old running 3rd behind Expert Eye who subsequently won the Vintage Stakes, Group 2 the same week Barraquero sprung clear in the Richmond.

He went on to break his maiden at Chepstow by 6 lengths with plenty in hand.

Winning the Richmond at Glorious Goodwood set up what looked like a very bright future for the horse.

“I think he's a Group One horse and will get further. I'd love to think he'll go for the Morny in two weeks, but he's got other entries” - Brian Meehan, Trainer.

Claremount Stud is located in Co Clare, it will be the studs first venture in partnership with our team and we are looking forward to getting Barraquero into the swing of his new career.

“He is a very good looking individual, he has let down very well and settled in well here. He has a great temperament and we have had good interest in the horse already.” Paul Moroney, Stallion Manager.

An exciting year ahead for Manton Thoroughbreds

Manton Thoroughbreds II and III embark into what looks to be a very exciting year.

Manton Thoroughbreds II’s star Barraquero has done very well since his time off, he has been brought gradually up to speed and is looking a picture of health. 

His win in the Richmond Stakes Group 2 was very impressive, the form out of the race has been strong with Nebo winning a Group 3 and Headway winning a recent Listed race.

After a slight set back it was our decision to put him away for the season with a fresh start in 2018 the target.

A French Guineas entry has been made with the Greenham at Newbury very much our target for his start. 

Now handicapped Soldier’s Bay is expected to build on his 3 progressive runs as a two year old and will look to kick off his season with a winning start.

3 other horses remain unraced Brexiteer (Zoffany), Malangen (Born To Sea) and Eternal Frame (Dutch Art) will be flying the Green and Blue flag soon enough.

Manton Thoroughbreds III, have 6 two year old colts to go to battle with. 2 bought from Doncaster a Zebedee colt and an Acclamation, the Zebedee looks nice and sharp it would be very exciting if he could live up to the benchmark Barraquero (Zebedee) has set.

From Goffs we bought a Holy Roman Emperor, this proven sire is a fantastic source of winners which make great trade horses, he is a good looking colt that would attract the attention of certain export routes should he win a race or two.

The remaining horses were bought from Tattersalls, a Charm Spirit that was infact partly owned by Brians new assistant James Ferguson lets hope he can reward us for our purchase. A Dandy Man and an Archipenko were also acquired, the former looks sharp and the latter just might be one for next year.

A lot to look forward to for all those involved.

On a High!! Newmarket & Goodwood Festivals

RAHEEN HOUSE

It was Raheen House that got the ball rolling to an incredible run of winners.

After a shaky landing in a plane where the landing gear didn’t originally lower, it was all soon forgotten when the gap opened for Jamie Spencer to let our St Leger hope loose in the Bahrain Trophy Group 3 landing my first Group 3 winner at bought public auction.

Staying on powerfully up the hill he was going further away from them with every stride. An extra furlong will surely be suited and a little cut in the ground will allow for perfect conditions at Doncaster and that Classic itch would be scratched for Brian who is the only one that feels he needs it to add to an incredible list of worldwide Group 1's!!!

BARRAQUERO

Backing up his great first run at Newbury the speedy son of Zebedee bolted up at Chepstow by 6 lengths on his next start.

He slightly left our hearts in our mouths after the race when jumping the fence and taking a tumble on the tarmac but the wounds were only superficial.

The winner of the Newbury maiden Expert Eye was next to be seen at Glorious Goodwood where he won the Vintage Stakes impressively swiftly putting himself at the top of the betting for the Guineas. 

Goodwood conditions gradually got worse and by Thursday it was a tough decision to run, but he was flying at home and Zebedee’s stock can like the softer going.

What a great decision it was to run as he duly rewarded us under a cool ride from William Bewick he burst to the front and won a shade cosy giving me my first Group 2 winner bought.

Bewick commented that he didn’t like the ground but he was a cut above the rest. It was an incredible fete for Brian who had won the race twice already.

He holds an entry in the Prix Morny Group 1 as well as The Gimcrack and The Mill Reef (Group 2’s), he looks extremely exciting and I feel a Group 1 this year will not be out of his reach. 

PETRUS

Petrus was the next horse to frank the Barraquero Newbury from, purchased for £35,000 at GoffsUK for client and friend Giles Morland the son of Zoffany 4th behind BQ looked to only be doing his work late and the 7 furlongs at Sandown was the perfect spot for him. Winning by nearly 2 lengths this colt looks like he will rise to the challenge in a step up in class and possibly in trip toward the later part of the season.

CAP VERITE

This one for me was a little more personal as I owned her and travelled a very long way to see her run!! The eve post Richmond win I boarded an 11 hour ferry to St Malo to watch this ‘penalty kick’ as my trainer Nicolas Clement called it run. 

And that she duly did winning comfortably after making all and putting the field of 9 to bed under a great ride from Nicloas’ apprentice Miss Grosso.

I hope we can aim for black-type next with her, she has a lovely page and will be retired to Haras De Buff at the end of the year.

OTHERS:

Ivegotthepower (40,000gns) Backed up the win at Goodwood gamely last month at his previous winning track Bath brining his tally to 3 wins this year.

Fastar (£20,000) won nicely at Windsor for Biddestone Racing, he always showed plenty of promise as a two year old and I think we will be seeing more of this horse.

Atalanta Queen (£13,000) won her claimer by 5 lengths, she was subsequently claimed for £9,000.

A start to the season with plenty of promise!!

Its been a great start to the season but the crossbar just seems to be getting in our way a little too much for our liking.

Our first two year old runner was a Havana Gold colt Mysaan for new Dubai based owners Araam who now have 3 in the yard, it was at the Greenham meeting Newbury where the small chesnut ran on nicely for Jimmy to come home in 7th looking like he needed every inch of 5f, he holds an entry this Thursday Newmarket: RACECARD 

Raheen House ran a valiant race to finish 2nd in-between tomorrows 2/5 favourite of the Musidora Shutter Speed and subsequent impressive winner of the Chester Cup Enable. Goodwood could well be on the cards for him next.

The first winner came from I’vegotthepower who turned a good 4th over 1m2f in his season debut into a 3 length romp at Bath back at a mile and it helped it was owned us and ran in my mothers old colours the inverted of Dads. 

It was going to be Nicolas Clements Cap Verite who was to make my birthday weekend something special last Saturday at Deauville on Guineas Day, looking green out the back in terrible ground the little filly came three wide at the turn and looked to be the only winner when only for the two infont to just see off her challenge, it looks like this daughter of Cape Cross will benefit from better ground but I am extremely excited of what more there is to come from her!

First start for Cap Verite Chantilly

A very happy owner yesterday when Cap Verite made her racecourse debut at Chantilly for Nicolas Clement.

Bought from the Arqana Breeze-Up 2016 she was unraced as a two year old due to micro chips in both front fetlocks. We operated immediately and gave her a good break under the care of Clement and the team.

She was bought as a breeding prospect for us and while in her box it was the half sister to our dam that gave us a big update in Mehmas. Winning two Group 2's and now standing at Stud was a big boost to our page.

The race consisted of 4 of the 13 runners holding a Group 1 entry and some big names in the mix. Nicolas was merely looking for a nice run from her as she still had not come in her coat. 

At a distance of 1900m she missed break, greenness and plenty of kickback had her out the back, going straight to the breeding barn sprang to mind. But instead at the home turn she sprang into action and displayed an exciting turn of foot to finish 7th not hit once by Jockey Grosso.

Very much looking forward to where this filly could go!!  

Champagne Charley wins Santa Anita

It was a great night last night when on the 4th time of asking since moving to the USA Champagne Charley under a star ride from the track leading jockey got through to win a shade cosy in the 1 mile $60k Allowance Race.

Out of one of my own mares Age Of Refinement this Gelding won first time out for me in France last year in what turns out to have been a very hot maiden. 

He switched yards and countries from Nicolas Clement to Simon Callaghan and the majority shareholding to Eclipse Thoroughbreds under the management of Aron Wellman.

It was a bit of a wait for his first start ridden by Frankie the day before the Breeders Cup who commented that he was still a big baby and needed it. Next time he swooped home late and was unlucky not to have won. Odds on fav next time out he ran a little flat though only beaten 2 1/2l to 6th to subsequently scope dirty.

Fit and well last night was for him to take the glory and show what he did at Chantilly. In a steady enough run race jockey Flavien Prat picked his moment and threaded the needle to win by a length.

It great news for the mare who is carrying a Wootton Bassett foal has a Style Vendome Yearling Filly and a colt in training called William with Mr Rohaut who I am told has a good record with his two year olds!

Onto bigger things for Champagne Charley I hope as it decision making time as to who the mare is to go to!!

St Moritz : White Turf

This was my third excursion to St Moritz this time with Brian Meehan trained Mutarakez newly bought from Doncaster Horses In Training Sales for a new owner.

The horse travelled very well arriving on Thursday. On Saturday morning the track was opened for the horses to exercise, he had a steady canter around the circuit. The track seemed in good condition from what we could see, slightly on the quick side but no issues. The horse took well to the surface in the newly fitted grooved shoes.

It was on raceday that the trip took a u-turn for the worse, attending the first to see the conditions, which was the 6 1/2 furlong Moyglare Stud Stakes where we finished 3rd before with Desert Strike.

Turning into the home straight one of the field I believe it was Boomerang Bob, Jamie Osbournes and George Baker took a nasty fall appearing to have been caused by hole in the snow, followed by another horse at the same spot.

Both jockeys were airlifted to hospital and upon inspection of the track, it was decided by race officials to abandon the meeting due to the uncertainty as to wether it would be safe.

This was really a relief for us all as it clearly was not safe for the jockeys and the horses and their well being comes first.

Reports from the jockeys that not only was the lake cracking on the straight it was also on the first turn and the back stretch.

This is not the first time this has happened and I think that it needs to be seriously reviewed, the affects of global warming clearly has the lake thawing earlier than in the past and I think that when the event is held (i.e. timing) could be the key to keeping this unique raceday alive.

Although it was a fantastic trip for all outside of this we have advised the owners to seek compensation it is not a cheap trip.