Coventry Stakes Hero Rashabar Retires to Begin Stallion Career

Sam Sangster of Manton Thoroughbreds has announced the retirement of Rashabar, with stallion opportunities now being explored for the high-class son of Holy Roman Emperor.

A Group 2 winner at two, Rashabar provided one of the most memorable moments of Royal Ascot 2024 when landing the Coventry Stakes, defeating a deep field including Camille Pissarro in a thrilling finish. He went on to confirm himself among the best of his generation with two outstanding efforts in Group 1 company, finishing an unlucky second in both the Prix Morny and arguably a career best Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère.

His juvenile form has continued to stand up strongly. In the Lagardère, Rashabar finished ahead of subsequent top class performers including Group 1 winners Field Of Gold and Henri Matisse, underlining the depth and quality of his two-year-old campaign.

At three, Rashabar again proved highly competitive at the top level, finishing fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, as well as placing at Group and Stakes level. Tough, genuine and sound, he retires as a Group 2-winning juvenile with proven Group 1 form at two and three with a Timeform rating of 111.

Sam Sangster said: “Rashabar has been a fantastic horse to be involved with and gave us one of the most exciting days of my career when winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot for the syndicate. He has always had tremendous physical presence he is beautifully balanced, has a heart of a lion, with great depth and quality and I have no doubt breeders will be impressed by him, not only for what he achieved on the racecourse, but also for the individual he is.”

Trainer Brian Meehan said: “Rashabar was an incredibly genuine, tough and talented horse. He had the speed to win a Coventry, but also the constitution and class to be highly competitive in Group 1 company. He was a pleasure to train, very sound-minded, straightforward and willing and I very much look forward to training his progeny in the future.”