Horse Racing
Raaheeb set for return in Winter Hill Stakes after summer break
One-time Classic hope Raaheeb makes his return from a summer break in the Weatherbys Global Stallions App Winter Hill Stakes.
A full-brother to a couple of multiple Group One winners in Baaeed and Hukum, the son of Sea The Stars looked a potential Derby contender after making an impressive start to his three-year-old season at Sandown in the spring, but a tilt at the premier Classic at Epsom was ultimately deemed too much too soon.
He instead travelled to the Curagh for the Irish Derby where he was not disgraced in finishing fourth on what was only his third career start, after which connections opted to give the immature youngster more time to strengthen and develop further.
The Owen Burrows-trained Raaheeb steps back in distance and class for Monday’s Group Three feature, where he is set to face six rivals.
Angus Gold, racing manager for owner-breeders Shadwell, said: “As long as it’s decent ground and it’s not too quick, the plan is very much to run.
“Rossa (Ryan) very much felt the ground was fast enough in Ireland for him and we’ve minded up until now, so obviously we don’t want to go and undo that with the autumn ahead of us.
“Physically when you look at him, he was just a shell of a horse earlier in the year. The worst thing we could have done was to bottom him at that stage, so Owen has been very patient, as have the owners.
“He’s had plenty of time and whatever he does this year is a bonus – he’s very much all about next year this fellow. We just want to mind him and see how we get on.”
Raaheeb’s opponents include a pair of Godolphin-owned runners in Charlie Appleby’s Maho Bay and John and Thady Gosden’s Morris Dancer, while Ralph Beckett saddles recent Salisbury Listed scorer On Message.
The Gosdens also run outsider Harmonics, with Jack Channon’s Crest Of Fire and Venetian Prince from Andrew Balding’s yard completing the line-up.
