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| Staff Writer |
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Following a commanding performance at York, Merchant has earned himself a crack at the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. The progressive William Haggas-trained colt dominated his rivals by two-and-a-half lengths in a 12-furlong handicap, building on a promising seasonal debut at Newmarket where he finished a close third.
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's managing director Harry Herbert has high hopes for the developing 3YO as Royal Ascot approaches.
"He's learning rapidly now and improving rapidly. The plan is to head to Royal Ascot for the King George V handicap with him," Herbert explained. "We know with Teofilos that they improve with age, so we'll be hopeful that we go on from there and see where he takes us."
The prestigious ownership syndicate has a remarkable record in the competitive handicap, as Herbert was keen to highlight.
"We've been fortunate to have won the race four times at Highclere, with Sir Michael Stoute primarily (Beekeeper, Admiral, Colony) and once with a horse for John Gosden called Heritage. He's very much in the mould of that sort of horse," he said.
Herbert believes Tom's assessment of the colt's preferences will stand him in good stead for Ascot's right-handed configuration.
"It's a fiercely, ferociously competitive race. You've got to have something that is a big improver and one that relishes a mile and a half – and he fits those things that are very important," Herbert noted.
Looking beyond Ascot, connections have higher aspirations: "We'll see how he develops at Ascot and whether he develops into a black type horse, we hope he will."
The bloodstock expertise of Jake Warren has been credited for acquiring this exciting prospect, with Herbert concluding: "He's a dream horse for a syndicate to have and it's very exciting. He's a beautiful horse, very well bought by Jake Warren and touch wood, he's been very sound."