A race famously won by Frankel en route to Guineas glory, the Group 3 Greenham Stakes is one of the opening Classic trials of the season. Joe Napier looks at this year’s field to see which future stars lie in wait.
RASHABAR
(Brian Meehan/Sean Levey)
A Royal Ascot winner last season, Rashabar won at 80/1 as a maiden in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, emerging from out of the blue after defeats in two maiden races beforehand. He proved that to be no fluke though, finishing runner-up in two French Group 1s afterwards, the latter on Arc weekend.
Trainer Brian Meehan won this two seasons ago too, so knows how to get a horse ready for this on return, though a slight concern, for all he has appeared at a high level, has to be that his only win came by a nose, and has otherwise found ways not to win. Nevertheless, he has plenty of quality, and should be in the mix for all that longer trips may suit this year.
CHANCELLOR
(John & Thady Gosden/Robert Havlin)
Cheveley Park owned the winner a year ago and Chancellor represents the powerful Gosden yard for the 2025 renewal too. A son of former Greenham winner Kingman and Breeders’ Cup heroine Queen’s Trust, who also carried these silks with distinction, he is bred in the purple, with two wins from three to date boding well for his future.
However, he did suffer an odds-on defeat at Listed level at Ascot last term (lost a shoe), and his Doncaster wins either side do not represent strong enough form to win a Classic trial, let alone the real thing. He does have more promise than most, and winners have emerged from his Doncaster successes, but there are alternatives.
JONQUIL
(Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy)
Now with Andrew Balding after he was one of Sir Michael Stoute’s last winning juveniles, Jonquil looked highly promising on his debut at Sandown last term, winning despite being hampered and looking green. Unfortunately, he could not deliver further on that promise when still with Stoute, finishing sixth of seven in Listed company next time out.
He missed the break that day and probably ended up out of his ground on the wrong side of the course, but it was still below par given he was not overly keen or unsuited by conditions. The promise is there, but even in a field where there are more questions than answers, he has it to prove.
AL QUDRA
(Charlie Appleby/William Buick)
The most experienced runner by some way, Al Qudra has had nine runs, which is at least four more than any of his rivals here. Three of those have resulted in victory, including a defeat of Chancellor at Ascot last season, while he was also runner-up at Grade 1 level in Canada last term.
He has already run twice this winter in the Middle East, winning last time out at Al-Uqda, so will be arriving here in full fitness. He is also the first Godolphin runner since 2017, where they had the one-two, so this looks to have been targeted and he should go close.
THE FIELD
Both Saracen and Rogue Allegiance are one from one and could easily make the leap forward required. The former is trained by Joseph O’Brien, and is well-bred, but Irish yards haven’t won this since 2009, though conversely, David O’Meara claimed this with 16/1 outsider Esquire last year, and Rogue Allegiance did win by six lengths on debut.
Yah Mo Be There was down the field in Rashabar’s Coventry, but did then win at Listed level next time. He has the longest absence to overcome, with Noble Champion also returning for the season. He was beaten easily on his only turf start before a comfortable all-weather win.
Down the bottom, Aurora Majesty is two from two, while Diablo Rojo makes significant appeal having won the two races he could have done and shaped with plenty of promise in the Acomb Stakes, which may have been the strongest juvenile race of 2024.
VERDICT
Rogue Allegiance is respected for last year’s winning trainer, but like so many, including Saracen and Jonquil, measuring his potential improvement in this race is tough. On known form, Rahsabar heads the field, but Al Qudra and DIABLO ROJO have also achieved plenty, the latter having finished sixth despite doing lots wrong in an immensely strong running of York’s Acomb Stakes, and he looks overpriced, though the experience of the former warrants serious respect.
- Diablo Rojo
- Al Qudra
- Rashabar
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