Herbert Has Arc Dream For Merchant After Gordon Battle

[Wandering Eyes]

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's autumn dreams stayed alive against suitably dramatic Sussex skies on Thursday with the progressive Merchant (Teofilo) fighting his way through the G3 HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes. Held up by Tom Marquand after the day's first flag start, the 6-5 favourite had to work to get by Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko) but may have had the most aptitude of the pair late on to prevail by a nose, with a gap of seven lengths back to the solid yardstick Windlord (Dubawi) in third.

“It was tough and the horse had to show lots of guts,” trainer William Haggas said. “James [Owen] has got Wimbledon Hawkeye back to his best and that horse ran a fantastic race on this ground.”

The St Leger is always on the agenda for winners of this race–taken last year by Jan Brueghel–but Haggas is unconvinced based on the experience at Doncaster of his 2023 Gordon winner. “I don't know yet about the St Leger,” he added. “We will obviously talk to Harry [Herbert] about it. My gut feeling is no, because I don't think it did Desert Hero much good long-term.”

Marquand also seemed far from convinced about the Doncaster Classic. “The trouble is he was struggling on that ground and the likelihood of getting a fast-ground St Leger is slim enough,” he said. “If it were to happen, I would thoroughly be looking forward to riding him.”

The third opinion on the Classic target sat with the renowned syndicate's kingpin Harry Herbert, who was in no doubt as to the level the winner is at. “He is very special. Dare I say it, but he is the best we have had since Harbinger,” he said. “The trainer is not that keen on the St Leger. We will see if he still runs at York, but the preferred plan would be to go to the Great Voltigeur Stakes. If he happened to win the Voltigeur, we might be dreaming of an Arc.”

JUST!

Merchant lands the Gordon Stakes by a WHISKER! @HighclereRacing |@HKJC_Racing | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/eIbmJmtXGW

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 31, 2025

Pedigree Notes
Merchant is the second foal out of the unraced Ceistiu (Vocalised), a full-sister to the G3
Killavullan Stakes and G3 Amethyst Stakes winner and G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Prix Jean Romanet-placed Steip Amach and half to the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes winner Ceisteach (New Approach). The latter's full-sister Fidaaha is in turn the dam of three Group winners including Mehmas's G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes hero Scorthy Champ (Mehmas) and G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and G3 Prix Imprudence winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G1 Prix de la Foret-placed Malavath.

From the Aga Khan Studs family of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Shalanaya (Lomitas) and the G2 Prix Chaudenay winner Shankardeh (Azamour) and the great Shergar, Ceistiu also has the twice-placed two-year-old filly Slaney View (Mehmas) and a yearling colt by Dawn Approach.

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain

HKJC WORLD POOL GORDON STAKES-G3, £200,000, Goodwood, 7-31, 3yo, 11f 218yT, 2:37.88, hy.

1–MERCHANT (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)

1st Dam: Ceistiu (Ire), by Vocalised

2nd Dam: Ceist Eile (Ire), by Noverre

3rd Dam: Sharafanya (Ire), by Zafonic

1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€135,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – Barn Owl; B-J S Bolger; T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, $258,400. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

2–Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB), 129, c, 3, Kameko–Eva Maria (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O-The Gredley Family; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd; T-James Owen. £43,000.

3–Windlord (GB), 129, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Goldika (Ire), by Intello (Ger). O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd; T-Andrew Balding. £21,520.

Margins: NO, 7, 3/4. Odds: 1.20, 7.50, 7.50.

Also Ran: Rahiebb (GB), Too Soon (GB), Sir Dinadan (Ire), Galveston (GB).

 

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