Newbury Racecourse plc

04/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2024 04:29

Stars of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes

The Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes is one of the key Classic trials of the Flat season for colts and has been the stepping stone to stardom for many.

First established in 1906, the seven-furlong race takes place on the Saturday of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Weekend at Newbury. The Group 3 contest has an illustrious roll of honour with multiple Group 1 winners, Champion Miler and Champion Sprinter amongst them. The Greenham Stakes also features on the form of some of the great sires, notably Kingman and Frankel.

#1 - Kingman (2014)

Kingman, trained by John Gosden for the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, only ran twice as a two-year-old - both starts he won in decisive fashion including the Group 3 Solario Stakes.

He returned after a break of 224 days to be sent off 15/8 favourite in the 2014 renewal of the Greenham Stakes. The son of Invincible Spirit pulled clear under James Doyle to land an impressive four and a half-length victory over Night of Thunder.

The pair would meet again only a matter of weeks later in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas where Night of Thunder reversed the form.

This would be the only defeat of Kingman's career as he went on to win four consecutive Group 1's before retiring to stud as Champion three-year old.

Kingman has since sired 10 Group 1 winners including 2021 Al Shaqab Lockinge winner Palace Pier.

Click below to watch Kingman win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.

#2 - Muhaarar (2015)

Muhaarar, trained by Charlie Hills, was the second string of the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in the 2015 Greenham Stakes.

Sent off at odds of 16/1 under Frankie Dettori, the son of Oasis Dream beat first string Estidhkaar by a neck.

He stepped up in trip to a mile following his Greenham victory which resulted in a disappointing run in the French 2000 Guineas before cementing himself as a top-class sprinter.

A return to six furlongs saw Muhaarar record four consecutive Group 1 victories including the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup, Prix Maurice de Gheest and QIPCO British Champions Sprint.

He retired to stud at the end of his three-year-old campaign as Champion Sprinter of 2015. Muhaarar has since sired 44 flat stakes performers including 12 Group winners, notably 2023 Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi.

Click below to watch Muhaarar win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.

#3 - Barney Roy (2017)


Barney Roy, trained by Richard Hannon Jr and owned by Godolphin, won his only race as a juvenile in 2016 before emerging as a top-class performer in the following year.

In the Greenham Stakes he was piloted by James Doyle, tracking the leaders before overtaking Dream Castle to assume the lead inside the final furlong.

After his win in the Greenham Stake, he finished second in the 2000 Guineas before recording his biggest victory in the St James's Palace Stakes.

He went on to finish second in the Eclipse Stakes and third in the International Stakes before being retired to stud at the end of the year. His spell at stud showed he was infertile so he was gelded and he returned to racing in the 2019 season.

As a gelding in 2020 he recorded victories in the Al Rashidiya, Jebel Hatta, Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and Grosser Preis von Baden, totalling over £1.2m in prize money.

Click below to watch Barney Roy win the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.