Sent off as the 6/5 favourite, Merchant was made to dig deep—particularly after Wimbledon Hawkeye kicked clear with over two furlongs to run. The crowd roared as the pair locked horns in a sustained duel to the line. The conditions may have been brutal, but the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes 2025 turned into one of the most exciting finishes of the summer.
HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes 2025: Merchant Outduels Rivals in Thriller
In a final-furlong slugfest, Merchant showed rare determination to get his nose in front on ground he patently disliked. Tom Marquand had to drive for every inch, and the colt responded with steely resilience.
“I needed a brave horse there,” said Marquand. “Wimbledon Hawkeye got a lovely run downhill and had the better of the surface. But Merchant kept responding. He absolutely hated the ground but just refused to quit.”
Trainer William Haggas echoed that sentiment: “I wasn’t sure he had won. It was a gutsy run. James Owen has Wimbledon Hawkeye back at his best, and that made our win even tougher. Something had to win and we were lucky it was us.” The HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes 2025 demanded both class and courage—qualities Merchant delivered in full.
HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes 2025: Path to the St Leger?
While the Gordon Stakes is often a stepping stone to the St Leger, Haggas remained noncommittal about future targets. “The Voltigeur was the plan,” he explained, “but he’s had a race today. We’ll let him rest, then speak to Harry Herbert and see. My gut says no to the Leger, remembering what it did to Desert Hero.”
Voltigeur or Arc: What’s Next for Merchant?
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Harry Herbert was visibly thrilled, calling Merchant “the best we’ve had since Harbinger.” Though avoiding direct comparisons, Herbert hinted at ambitious horizons: “That was a hard race. If he runs well in the Voltigeur, maybe we start dreaming about the Arc.”
Behind the leading duo, Windlord kept on gamely for third, much to trainer Andrew Balding’s satisfaction. “We were trying a longer trip for the first time, and he saw it out well. He handles all ground and is holding his own at a high level,” Balding noted.
With his latest win, Merchant has now added a Group 3 badge to his growing résumé, overcoming adversity, a rise in class, and poor conditions. Whether it’s York for the Voltigeur or an audacious leap to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, he’s a colt to follow from the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes 2025 and beyond.
For more insights into rising British colts and Group 1 prospects, visit our international coverage on RaceBuzz.
