Meehan has Newmarket as target for Barraquero

london — Brian Meehan has Newmarket’s Group 1 races as his end of season target for his very useful juvenile Barraquero, who won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month.

Barraquero is one of 78 entries received for this year’s newly termed Darley Dewhurst Stakes, renamed to align with other topquality contests, such as the Darley July Cup, which are also associated with the global stallion operations of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The Fillies’ Mile, the highlight on the card for day one of Dubai Future Champions Festival on Oct. 13, received 52 entries. Both races are worth £500,000, making them Europe’s joint richest Group 1 two-year-old events.

The Darley Dewhurst Stakes has been won by the following year’s QIPCO 2,000 Guineas hero three times in the last seven years including Churchill last season. Aidan O’Brien’s powerful Ballydoyle stable is naturally well represented with 24 entries including proven Group performers such as Gustav Klimt, The Pentagon and US Navy Flag alongside promising types such as Amadeo Modiliani. He has also put in four fillies including Clemmie, Happily and September.

The ante-post favourite for the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas, Expert Eye, has been entered by Sir Michael Stoute. Owned by Mr K Abdullah, he was a very impressive winner of the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Aidan O’Brien has won the last three renewals of the Fillies’ Mile with Rhododendron, Minding and Together Forever. This year it features 12 entries from Ballydoyle including September, favourite for the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas after her win in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and group winners Clemmie – victorious in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket’s Adnams July Course — and Happily. Mark Johnston has entered Nyaleti whilst Michael Bell has nominated Roulette who won the same Goodwood maiden as last year’s winner Rhododendron.