Tag Archive for: Brian Meehan

Isaac Shelby edged out in French Guineas thriller

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Trainer Brian Meehan was left frustrated after Isaac Shelby had to make do with the runner-up spot behind shock winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp.

Winner of two of his three juvenile start last season, including the Group Two Superlative Stakes, Issac Shelby made an impressive reappearance in the Greenham at Newbury three weeks ago.

Meehan immediately ruled out a tilt at the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, instead electing to head for the French equivalent, and he was well fancied to claim Classic glory in the hands of Sean Levey.

The Night Of Thunder colt did little wrong and powered to the lead against the far rail in the straight, but was unable to resist the late surge of the widely unconsidered Marhaba Ya Sanafi.

While proud of his stable star’s performance, Meehan felt he was not seen to best effect.

Meehan said: “We were a bit frustrated by the lack of pace, especially in the first part of the race. It wasn’t fast enough for him, but he ran very well.

“I’m delighted for the horse, for his owner and for the team at home.

“He hasn’t shown the full extent of his talent yet. The best is yet to come, especially in races where there will be more pace.”

Brian Meehan will target Royal Ascot with Issac Shelby
Brian Meehan will target Royal Ascot with Issac Shelby (Mike Egerton/PA)

Meehan confirmed Isaac Shelby will now head for Royal Ascot, where he is entered in both the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup.

He added: “We are thinking of Royal Ascot, and in particular the St James’s Palace Stakes for him.”

Marhaba Ya Sanafi, trained by Andreas Schutz and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, was no match for American Flag in last month’s Prix de Fontainebleau, but turned the tables on the favourite, who failed to pick up for Christophe Soumillon and was ultimately a little disappointing in fourth place.

Schutz said: “I’m delighted. I was expecting a great performance from him but relative to finishing in the top five (rather than winning). I was also hoping for more rain.

“He had run well in the Prix de Fontainebleau and I had expected him to improve. The colt had worked well in the company of other of my horses, but I don’t necessarily have much to go on in the morning.

“I have won a lot of Classics in Germany, so I was able to have a calm outlook going into the race. It’s down to my experience!

“I have been in France for seven years and I hope that this victory will mark a new turning point in my career.

“The colt is entered in the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club, which seems like the logical next step.”

Royal Ascot is next on the agenda for Breizh Sky
Royal Ascot is next on the agenda for Breizh Sky (David Davies/PA)

Royal Ascot is next on the agenda for third-placed Breizh Sky.

Trainer Alessandro Botti said: “It was great. Before the race I was still worried about the draw. But Maxime Guyon rode a great race.

“As things stand, he’s scheduled to go to Royal Ascot for a 1,400-metre race on the straight course. We will try to prepare him for that. It will depend on how the horse recovers.”

Meehan looking forward to French Guineas bid with Isaac Shelby

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Isaac Shelby is “super spot-on” for Sunday’s French 2000 Guineas at ParisLongchamp.

The Brian Meehan-trained Night Of Thunder colt was a runaway winner of the Greenham at Newbury on his three-year-old debut.

Last season’s Superlative Stakes winner carried the famous green and blue Sangster family colours to three victories from four starts, but he has recently been sold to Qatari-based operation Wathnan Racing.

He lines up against nine rivals in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains with Meehan confident he has shown all the right signs for his French mile Classic tilt.

“He has been working great. He’s been super spot-on since the Greenham and we’ve got to go,” said the Manton handler.

“It is very exciting and we’re looking forward to it. I’m very happy with him.”

Isaac Shelby won a dramatic Greenham
Isaac Shelby won a dramatic Greenham (PA)

The form of the Greenham was in effect given a boost when Chaldean, who unseated Frankie Dettori coming out of the stalls before happily bowling along riderless up front, took the Qipco 2000 Guineas in style at Newmarket.

Isaac Shelby, who finished last of seven to Chaldean in the Dewhurst, romped to a three-length success on his return in the Greenham, and Meehan is pleased that Chaldean recovered from his mishap at Newbury.

“It was a nice form boost in a funny sort of way. I’m glad he came back fine after the Greenham and went on and won the Guineas. I thought it was a great race, but it was a shame about the (very soft) ground.

“But Isaac is great. His work is done – it was done before the Greenham. He took it well.

“You just keep them ticking over after a race like that. It’s pretty simple, he doesn’t have anything to prove.

“I know they are saying it will be heavy ground, but it doesn’t really matter what sort of ground we get – we are going to get whatever we get. There’s no point in hoping. It is what it is.

“The thing is, he is there on good to firm and good to soft, so we’ll take our chance.”

Knight was a cosy winner of the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury
Knight was a cosy winner of the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury (Neil Morrice/PA)

Knight was another who ran in the Greenham, finishing seventh.

Winner of the Horris Hill over the same course and distance, he never travelled on his three-year-old debut and was beaten some 18 lengths.

“I don’t know what happened at Newbury to be honest, but the horse has bounced out of the Greenham,” said Ed Crisford, who trains in partnership with his father, Simon.

“Whether it was the sticky ground he didn’t get through, I know he’s won on heavy but it had been raining that day it’s very different. He just didn’t go a yard and there’s nothing much to say about that other than it was very disappointing.

“The horse has bounced out of it though and is training good and we always thought he was a much better horse than that. He seems to have come alive and come on for that race, so he’s going to France and hopefully he can run a big race albeit he has to prove it now.

“I’m sure there is going to be lots more upside to come from him and if he gets a good trip round I’m sure he will run a good race.

“It’s going to be a very good race, it always is. The Greenham winner is in there and American Flag looks very good, so there’s plenty of depth.

“But I’m sure he will run a good race and I just want to see him bounce back to form. He deserves to from his two-year-old form and if you look at his record he has had two wins and one blow out and every horse is entitled to a bad day now and again.”

Aidan O’Brien is represented by Leopardstown Guineas Trial scorer Hans Anderson, as the Ballydoyle trainer bids for a sixth win in the Classic.

Ryan Moore rides and told his Betfair blog: “Hans Andersen acquitted himself well enough after beating Al Riffa in his maiden at two, and you had to be delighted with his comeback win at Leopardstown, even if the runner-up came out and disappointed next time.

Hans Andersen impressed Ryan Moore on his comeback at Leopardstown
Hans Andersen impressed Ryan Moore on his comeback at Leopardstown (Damien Storan/PA)

“The step up to a mile for the first time will suit this Frankel colt and he could well find the improvement needed for him to be involved the shake-up.”

The home challenge is a strong one, led by American Flag, who is owned by Malcolm Parrish and trained by Yann Barberot.

The son of Wootton Bassett showed a nice turn of foot to take the Prix de Fontainebleau on heavy ground over course and distance on his second start this term, having previously scored in a Listed race at Saint-Cloud.

Barberot is expecting a big run. He said: “American Flag worked well on the grass (Tuesday). His jockey, Christophe Soumillon, liked the way that he conducted himself.

“The horse is in great shape. He appreciates the very soft terrain and he has a very good mentality.

“He knows Longchamp and I am confident for Sunday.”

Isaac Shelby puts the famous Sangster silks back in the limelight

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It may be remembered for the day Frankie Dettori and leading 2000 Guineas hope Chaldean parted company when receiving a bump at the start of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.

Yet it was also a welcome red-letter afternoon for the famous emerald green and blue silks of the Sangster family.

While the unfortunate Chaldean was loving life at Newbury without a rider on his back, Isaac Shelby and Sean Levey made the best of it up front and, unchallenged, won in the style of a good horse.

Paddy Power were quick to react to his success, making him an 8-1 chance for glory in the Guineas in a fortnight’s time but with trainer Brian Meehan seemingly favouring the French Guineas, you can probably treble that.

As a trial, those who put their hard-earned on the winner of the Greenham for the Guineas invariably keep those dastardly bookmakers in ice cream for the summer.

Consider the facts. Wollow won the Greenham and then the Guineas in 1976. It was another 35 years before Frankel did the double. The late Sir Henry Cecil was the master trainer of those outliers who successfully completed the feat.

Indeed, the last winner of the Newmarket colts’ mile Classic to run in the Greenham was nine years ago when Night Of Thunder, Isaac Shelby’s sire, went one better than he had done at Newbury.

So Meehan, tempted though he may be to head to Newmarket, may be right to head to France.

Isaac Shelby had won the Superlative on Newmarket’s July course, a different beast to the Rowley Mile where he subsequently finished last of seven in the Dewhurst when last seen in October. Worse still, he came out of that lame.

Sam Sangster, whose father Robert’s colours were carried to Guineas triumphs by the likes of Rodrigo De Triano, Lomond and El Gran Senor, and Derby victories by The Minstrel and Golden Fleece, may feel Newmarket is not to be sniffed at.

However, he was happy for now to bask in the moment and stick to the plan.

“It was fantastic,” said Sangster, who owns him as part of the Manton Thoroughbreds VII syndicate.

“We thought a lot of him as a two-year-old and we were not surprised when he won at Newmarket.

“Something was amiss in the Dewhurst and it wasn’t back to the drawing board for us, we just kept ticking over.

“He came back so well over the winter and we took him for a little run around at Lingfield. He was on point there, but ever since then he has just been improving more and more at home, so we came here with a lot of confidence. The way he won was very, very professional.

“But that is just him out and out. He has got a wonderful mind. He is just a real professional and seems to thrive every time he runs, so we are excited about the French Guineas, that’s for sure.

“We’ll obviously keep one eye on the British Guineas, but he loved that ground there today and I just think that (ParisLongchamp) will be a nice fit.

“I don’t think he is ground dependent, but the way he went through it today would give just cause to go to France.

“We can always take the boys on at Ascot. See how we go in France and then go to Ascot.”

Isaac Shelby may have had plenty fall his way in testing ground that was always going to have his rivals toiling to reel him back.

But rider Sean Levey felt he had plenty against him and overcame the odds to score readily.

He said: “To be honest, my horse ran a blinder under circumstances that I didn’t think really suited him – the first one being the ground, secondly the loose one actually lit me up. We ran keen for far longer than I would have liked.

“I think he proved himself in the Superlative on faster ground and then disappointed thereafter.

“He has obviously done well over the winter. He needed to improve and it looks as though he has.

“I did think he’d have to improve if the Guineas was going to be his route, but you can’t help but be fairly impressed with him today.

“Brian had the French Guineas on his mind but that could change. I think we always thought Newmarket wouldn’t suit.

“He has got the horse in a good place. He is a quality animal, but it is still early doors and it is not until after the Guineas you know what real quality is.”

While Isaac Shelby will likely skip HQ, the unfortunate Chaldean remains on course to emulate his sire.

Dettori explained: “He was getting a little bit restless in the stalls and I jumped a bit slow. I was half a length behind Charlie (Bishop, aboard Streets Of Gold). He veered right and we went left.

“He took the foot out of my iron and that was it – I was on the floor. Simple as that. I didn’t have time to think.”

Chaldean may, of course, still be up to the task, but missing this crucial test will not help his cause, especially since there are just two weeks between this particular trial and the Guineas.

Take nothing away from Meehan’s winner of what looked a reasonable renewal.

He looks the part, has all but filled his powerful frame, has a good eye, a powerful back end and somewhat stood out among nine other precocious boys of summer, who have begun to strut their stuff.

Those with deep pockets and unsound minds spend millions on these wonderful creatures. Still, there is no guarantee their genes will play the winning game their profile says they should.

Bubbles will undoubtedly be burst, for some today, for others later down the line. Perhaps a fortnight later.

Now, Chaldean is a very good horse. He has a bright future and will almost certainly win other top-class races. He remains at 5-1 for the Guineas, but if Andrew Balding did not have a tough enough task on his hands with the burden of history, now a lack of a thorough prep is on Chaldean’s powerful shoulders.

Isaac Shelby the Greenham hero, as Chaldean suffers dramatic early exit

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Isaac Shelby ran out an impressive winner of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury, in which hot favourite Chaldean dramatically unshipped Frankie Dettori on coming out of the stalls.

The Group Three trial was supposed to be the ideal stepping-stone for Chaldean – who won the Dewhurst for Andrew Balding and Dettori last season – en route to the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

However, his race was over before it began, with Chaldean jinking to his left as the stalls opened, as Streets Of Gold went the other way, and Dettori coming off to his right.

Isaac Shelby returns victorious with Sean Levey
Isaac Shelby returns victorious with Sean Levey (PA)

Isaac Shelby, trained by Brian Meehan, won the Superlative Stakes last season before finishing last of seven in the Dewhurst, and was soon in an early advantage under Sean Levey with only the loose Chaldean for company.

On testing ground nothing came close to throwing down a challenge, as Isaac Shelby (15-2) beat Charyn by three lengths with Theoryofeverything claiming third.

Of Chaldean’s exit, Balding said: “It was one of those unfortunate things, isn’t it? We are just thankful it was a trial and the horse seems to have come back fine and Frankie is fine. It is real bad luck.

“We’ve got two weeks to the Guineas. It is what it is and the Guineas was always the main aim, and that’s where we’re going.

“He was fit and well and ready to run a big race. As long as everything is all right, happily he pulled up pretty quick – had he gone and done another circuit of the track, it would have been a big problem, but he’s had a decent workout and probably enjoyed it.”

Chaldean remains on course for the 2000 Guineas
Chaldean remains on course for the 2000 Guineas (Mike Egerton/PA)

Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon added: “The main thing is the horse is OK and the jockey is OK.

“I think it was one of those freak things, Frankie said the horse beside him just came over and caught his leg and ripped it out of the stirrup. The horse was a little slow (from the stalls) and the horse on his outside came across and literally caught his leg.

“No harm done and the horse has had a day out. That was the whole aim of today, to get him out. We continue on as normal and as long as Andrew is happy with the horse in the next few days he’ll still go to Newmarket.

“We were considering this morning whether to actually run or not, or come for a racecourse gallop. There was a little uncertainty with the way the ground is, probably it’s no bad thing he’s had his day out, he’s had a gallop and he hasn’t had a hard time.

“He’s in great form, the horse looked great when he came back and Frankie is fine.”

While Chaldean is still on course for Newmarket, a trip to France is the target for the winner.

Meehan: “He is smart. I’ve always thought so. Things went wrong at Newmarket in the Dewhurst. He came back lame but luckily it wasn’t serious.

“We got him right within a couple of weeks and touch wood he’s been 100 per cent since.

“We are here today and he’s fine. He’s in the French Guineas, which was always the plan.

“I was spooked by Newmarket and the Dewhurst. I don’t want to go back there until he’s a little older or a little more mature. I don’t want to go back there again, because he was lame and he didn’t go to the Craven.

“It will be French Guineas and then take it from there. I was so disappointed in the Dewhurst, because he was not the finished article. There was so much more to come.

“Mentally he’s always been a calm horse, but Newmarket was only his second run.

“He has won a Group Two on good to firm. He seems to go on everything.

“I think it was quite holding ground and difficult. Chaldean was very unfortunate, Nobody wants to see that happen to anyone.

“It is a shame for Andrew and Juddmonte and so on.”