Rashabar defied odds of 80/1 to give jockey Billy Loughnane his first Royal Ascot triumph in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes
Brian Meehan's Rashabar stunned racegoers on the opening day of Royal Ascot when defying staggering odds of 80/1 under jockey Billy Loughnane.
The son of Holy Roman Emperor shaped promisingly when third on debut at Newbury and had excuses when third from a wide draw at Chester on his second outing. However, this represented a sizeable step up in grade for the twice-raced maiden, who looked hard to fancy taking on some of Europe's best two-year-old colts.
Rashabar ended up almost alone towards the far side of the track but showed plenty of tenacity in the closing stages to fend off the Wathnan Racing-owned pair Electrolyte and Columnist, who were sent off 40/1 and 50/1 respectively.
"What a feeling," said the 18-year-old Loughnane, who was as high as could be in the aftermath of his first Royal Ascot success. "Brian was very confident coming into the race. My plan was to go right even though the favourite [Camille Pissarro] was on my left – the quickest way is a straight line, and he did it the hard way.
"Wow. As I looked over, I thought I might have just won it, I saw the big screen and I just kept driving away. This is the best feeling in the world. It means a lot."
"He's a lovely horse," said Meehan of the longest-priced Coventry Stakes winner since Nando Parrado scored at 150/1 four years ago.
He added: "Chester was a little disappointing, but he missed the break and I think without that he'd have won. The form has worked out well, he'd been training so well at home and the team had done a tremendous job.
"Right now, it's about showing what we can do and the satisfaction as a trainer and for the team at home, it's very special."
On what the future may hold for Rashabar, Meehan added: "We shall see. I've always liked the idea of the Prix Morny. The July Stakes would be too soon, but the Richmond Stakes is attractive. Obviously, we have to think about G1 races… maybe a Breeders' Cup by the end of the year.
