Periodical
JULY
2025
MERCHANT
Winning at GoodwooD
31.07.25
Harry’s Introduction…
We came into Royal Ascot with high hopes despite only having four runners, but what joy as we came away with a winner and a second! Merchant was amazing in the King George V Handicap Stakes on Ladies Day beating what turned out to be the Irish Derby second Serious Contender by a length. There were scenes of unbridled joy which only a Royal Ascot winner can provide - honestly this place really is the theatre of dreams!
The two year olds have also got off to a great start and Awaken’s fine effort in the Albany (Gr 3) to finish second sealed a terrific week at Ascot. Away from Ascot and it was Nifty who kept the champagne flowing with a gutsy win in the valuable £40,000 restricted novice stakes at Salisbury. Then last week Radiance won like a very good filly on her debut at Yarmouth by four lengths under Ryan Moore. Bought by Jake at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Ups she has the makings of something out of the top drawer especially when she races over further as she matures. Concert finished second at Newbury on her debut and she also looks to be a sure fire winner next time! There are a good number yet to run who are limbering up and I still believe that this will be the best bunch we have had for a year or two which is saying something!
We have now launched our new syndicates to race in 2026 so if you haven’t already done so do take a close look and maybe put your name down for one or more that you like the look of. There is £2,700 off the second share if you decide to take two so book early! We also have a couple of shares left in our new breeze up filly by Ardad that we bought at the new Goffs Classic Breeze Up sale. She is gorgeous and comes from a wonderful Oppenheimer family so she has excellent resale value down the road. Ed Walker will train her and at only £6,500 for a share I think she represents great value.
Ascot’s King George meeting followed by Glorious Goodwood and then on to York!! Plenty of thrills to come and as always here’s wishing you all possible luck with your runners in the summer months ahead.
With my best wishes,
Harry Herbert
Chairman
HORSE IN FOCUS
Mojito makes a stir at Herridge
This beautifully put together filly has recently progressed to faster work and her action and ability has pricked a few ears in the Richard Hannon camp. It wont be long until we see this filly make her debut, all being well, and with only one share remaining she really is an opportunity not to be missed if you are looking for some action on the track in the near future!
ON THE TRACK
Merchant rains supreme at Glorious Goodwood
It has been a busy and rewarding month on the track, with our team of horses producing no shortage of action and success for our owners. From Group winners at major festival meetings to numerous two-year-olds getting off the mark in style, it really has been a fantastic few weeks to remember!
A Glorious Goodwood Through the lens of Harry Herbert
The month of June always revolves around Royal Ascot and for good reason. It is the highlight of the calendar for horseman and racegoers from across the globe. The pomp and splendour are a sight to behold, and the racing is spectacular. Champions are crowned and this year the Group 1 prizes were spread more widely amongst outfits large and small.
No Rest in June: A Month of Nonstop Racing Action
Away from Ascot there has been lots of excitement with four further winners and three notable seconds to report this month. At Highclere we are particularly well known for buying later developing middle distance types and these horses usually come into their own at this stage of their three-year-old season. One such horse, who broke his maiden last week at the third time of asking, is Antipodes, a colt by Starspangledbanner.
Radiance dazzles on debut!
I set off for Yarmouth with a fair degree of anticipation. I had been on the gallops that morning and more than one trainer (including William Haggas) who had the second favourite telling me that Radiance was the likely winner! Having heard this kind of banter on the gallops in the past I have learnt to take much of it with a pinch of salt, but there was no doubting George Boughey's enthusiasm!
Concert strikes the perfect chord!
A glorious golden sunlight bathed Newbury Racecourse on Thursday last week as owners were greeted with a perfect British summer’s evening. You could have been fooled into thinking the calmness was due to the serene atmosphere of the racecourse, but I think this quiet moment was more akin to a musical inhale before a powerful exhale—otherwise known as the ‘calm before the storm’ of Concert’s debut.
Antipodes gets off the mark in red-hot style!
The weather wasn’t the only thing blistering hot at Windsor during a recent Monday evening’s racing — our Starspangledbanner colt got off the mark in red-hot style, storming to victory in the EBF Maiden Stakes for 3yo+ over 1m at the end of June.