Merchant sets sail for Gordon success at rain-soaked Goodwood

Merchant pulled out all the stops to deny Wimbledon Hawkeye in a thrilling finish to the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes in attritional conditions at a gloomy Goodwood.

An impressive winner in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, William Haggas’ improving son of Teofilo was sent off the 6-5 favourite to enhance his growing reputation with a Group Three success.

With the threat of lightning meaning a flag start it was Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon who led them along, with the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned market leader among those held up at the rear of the field along with Aidan O’Brien’s Galveston and Andrew Balding’s recent Sandown winner Windlord.

With the runners edging over to the stands side with the two-furlong pole approaching, it appeared as though James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye would take some reeling in, but Merchant’s jockey Tom Marquand had a brave ally when he needed him, with the colt bridging the deficit to register a nose verdict in the nick of time.

Whether it proves to be at home or abroad, exciting options now await for Merchant, who was bred by Jim Bolger. Doncaster or Paris appears to be the discussion to be had regarding the autumn.

Haggas said: “Tom said he didn’t enjoy the ground, but he kept going and that’s what I like about him the most.

“His temperament is brilliant, he doesn’t give a monkey’s about anything. That is one of his great attributes for the future.

“They all had to cope with the conditions, it was going to be messy whatever happened with the flag start. He’s only won a nose and James’ horse ran a fabulous race.

“He really dug in well, he’s a very good horse. Desert Hero won this race and then ran in the St Leger and I don’t think he was ever quite the same afterwards.

“I’m worried about stretching this horse out to a mile and six too soon, I think he is really a horse for next year, too. We think he’s very good.

“However, if he didn’t like the ground there then he may not like the ground in France in autumn. I’m not saying the Arc is definitely not going to happen, but it’s not definitely not going to happen either.”

Highclere’s Harry Herbert added: “I’m not sure we’ll go for the Leger, the plan – so long as he comes out of this race fine – is to go to York (Great Voltigeur Stakes)

“We’ll see how that goes, if York went well and we had good ground at York we’d see what this horse can do on perfect ground.

“Tom said he was spinning his wheels the whole way, it’s extraordinary that he’s won. If he happened to go through York OK then the trainer has talked more about the Arc, which is quite bold.

“He’s worried about going a mile and six as a three-year-old, he sees him as having a very big future. He’s a master with this type of horse.”