The G1 Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday, August 18 has been identified as the “obvious target” for Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) after he defied odds of 80-1 to gain a first career victory in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Beaten in two previous starts at Newbury and Chester, Rashabar found significant improvement to come out on top in a field of 22 for Ascot's premier two-year-old contest, showing a good attitude to hold on by a nose having raced away from the other principals.
It was a poignant win for Sam Sangster–manager for owners Manton Thoroughbreds–as Rashabar carried the famous colours which once belonged to his father, Robert Sangster, who enjoyed top-level success with star names such as The Minstrel, Golden Fleece and Rodrigo De Triano.
“It was an incredible day and a proud moment for me to have a winner on the big stage in dad's silks,” Sangster summed up. “It was a very special moment to have that winner knowing what those colours mean to people both inside and outside of racing.
“The warmth I felt from inside the racing community and those outside was something very, very special and something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Reflecting on Rashabar's performance, Sangster added, “It came as a surprise, but it wasn't a surprise at the same time. We went into the race full of confidence, really from Newbury [on debut], that he was the right sort of horse for the race.
“Everything at Chester didn't really go to plan with the draw and the way he was slowly away, but he did the fastest sectional in the final furlong. Sean Levey made an interesting point that going round Chester is like having two runs and he was quite right as the horse came on mentally. As long as Brian [Meehan, trainer] and the team were happy, it was always all systems go.”
It's been 10 years since The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) became the last winner of the Coventry to follow up in the Prix Morny, but Meehan certainly knows what calibre of horse it takes to win the race having been successful with Bad As I Wanne Be (Ire) in 2000 and Arcano (Ire) 2009.
“Rashabar gets a free entry into the Phoenix Stakes and he has an entry in the National Stakes, but for me the obvious target, all being well, is to go to France for the Prix Morny,” said Sangster.
“He carries the French premiums, so you are talking about a very big pot, and it is a well-known stomping ground for horses that have come out of the Coventry. It is also a stallion-making race, which is what we are dreaming of with him.”
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