Meehan ponders Expert rematch after Barraquero storms home

Brian Meehan took considerable pleasure in pointing out Barraquero was his third winner of the Qatar Richmond Stakes, and it would come as no surprise should his latest winner of the Group 2 contest prove the best.

Having finished third to Expert Eye, who shot to the head of the betting for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas when landing Tuesday’s Vintage Stakes, on his debut before romping home at Chepstow last time, Barraquero was hardly a shock winner in the famous Robert Sangster silks.

But the manner in which he put Superlative Stakes runner-up Nebo and July Stakes hero Cardsharp to the sword could hardly have been more eyecatching.

“He’s a wonderful horse, so straightforward and he looks very good,” said Meehan.

“My past winners of the race [Easycall in 1996 and Carrizo Creek in 2003] were lovely horses but he’s a Group 1 horse for sure and will get further.”

Paddy Power were quick to offer 20-1 for next season’s Commonwealth Cup but Meehan pointed the way towards a possible tilt at the Guineas, with the same firm going 33-1 for the Classic.

“I’d think it was odds-on he’d go for the the Prix Morny next,” said Meehan of the immediate future.

“The Doncaster sales race is worth a lot of money and worth considering and he’d get seven furlongs no problem, but to win the Morny for the third time as well would be nice.”

A possible rematch with Expert Eye could also beckon this season, perhaps in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Meehan said: “Maybe we’ll go different directions for now and meet at the end but I think looking at the way he finished today he’d get a mile next year.”

Winning jockey William Buick – landing the race for the first time – was impressed with Barraquero's demeanour.

“He’s got a great temperament,” he said. “He handled that ground but I think he’d be better on better ground. His temperament is the big thing.”

Third home Cardsharp could reoppose the winner in the Morny, with runner-up Nebo potentially heading to Doncaster next.

His trainer Charlie Hills said: “The winner looked very good but I thought Nebo ran a very solid race again.

"There are a few good two-year-olds around and the Champagne Stakes might be next.”

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