Merchant camp planning to stick to Goodwood route

Merchant the Royal Ascot winner, is on a carefully planned path as his team opts for strategic races over a potential run in the prestigious King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Strategic Path to Goodwood’s Gordon Stakes

Only a dramatic shake-up to the envisaged King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes line-up is likely to tempt connections of Merchant from the path already mapped out for the exciting colt. William Haggas’ Royal Ascot winner saw the form of his King George V Stakes success enhanced when runner-up Serious Contender chased home Lambourn in the Irish Derby, but the Merchant team are at present resisting the temptation of a return to Ascot for their Group One feature on July 26.

“It’s really exciting and as we know it’s pretty stiff form,” said Harry Herbert of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

With King George thoughts on the back burner, Merchant’s route is likely to be as previously outlined, with the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 setting up a possible visit to York during the Ebor Festival.

It’s really exciting and as we know it’s pretty stiff form

Harry Herbert

Contingency Plans for King George VI

“I’m a great believer in you never say never and if you have the entry then you can consider all options, but I couldn’t envisage him running in the King George unless Calandagan suddenly couldn’t go and a couple more fell by the wayside,” Herbert explained.

“If you had Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby winner leading the betting, then that’s something that might lead to another conversation but for right now the plan is to go to Goodwood.” The connections are keeping the King George as a potential option but only if significant changes occur in the expected line-up, prioritizing a more measured progression for the colt.

Future Prospects at York’s Ebor Festival

Herbert added: “The plan is to go for the Gordon Stakes and play it one race at a time and if he happens to win there and depending on how he comes out of it, we’ll probably then head to the Great Voltigeur (August 20) and take it from there.”

“He’s a high-class colt and like all these horses, it will all depend on how they develop on during the season and fingers crossed he’s going to be a pretty important beast,” he noted.

The Great Voltigeur at York’s Ebor Festival is a key target, with Merchant’s team taking a step-by-step approach to ensure the colt’s development continues on an upward trajectory.