Billy Loughnane after winning the Coventry (Megan Coggin)
Ascot Racecourse Press Release
Racing’s hottest teenage jockey, champion apprentice Billy Loughnane, rode his first Royal Ascot winner when driving home 80/1 shot Rashabar in the G2 Coventry Stakes.
Wearing the famous Sangster colours that belong to Manton Thoroughbreds, 18-year-old Loughnane guided Rashabar – a maiden after two previous races – to victory over a pair of further long-priced outsiders, Electrolyte and Columnist.
The winner, who became trainer Brian Meehan’s first success at the meeting since Bacchus won the Wokingham Handicap in 2018, raced on the far side of the course, while the placed horses came stands’ side.
In a very tight finish, Rashabar won by a nose, with a head between Electrolyte and Columnist. Camille Pissarro, the 4/1 favourite, faded after holding a prominent position on the far side and eventually finished eleventh.
Meehan said: “Tremendous, this feels amazing. Dare I say, it was not a huge surprise. He’s felt very good since Chester and everything has gone really well with him throughout.
“Sean Levey said to me after Chester, that when a horse runs around Chester, it’s like having two runs – they learn so much – especially for a two-year-old, who had only run once. He has been training so well at home and the team have done a tremendous job. We got to 48 hours ago and we thought we were in good shape.
“Sean Levey comes and helps us with everything and has obviously got first choice of rides. Shashi Righton [jockey agent] looks after Billy as well, so we get to use Billy when we can – he’s a great kid, a lovely way about him and wonderful with people. The world is his oyster as far as the horse business is concerned.”
When asked about how special it was to win the race with a horse carrying the Manton Thoroughbred colours, Meehan said: “It is. You can try and keep a lid on things now, but we’ll draw breath in an hour or so and take some pleasure out of it. It’s just very special.”
On where the horse might run next, he said: “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.”
Billy Loughnane said: “Wow, what a feeling! I haven’t even been riding two years yet. I had my 200th career winner last night at Windsor, and I came here this week just praying I would manage to get on the board with one. To do it so early is a massive relief, and I can’t thank everyone from Brian Meehan’s and everyone involved. I was behind Sean [Levey] and he had to ride for Mr Hannon, and I was very lucky to get the opportunity.
“Brian was very confident coming into the race. Rashabar was very tough and had to do it the hard way. I wasn’t 100 percent sure I had won, I just kept driving away. I looked up at the big telly there and I thought I might have won but you never know for certain.
“This is the best feeling in the world. You grow up watching races like this. It’s always been a dream of mine to try and win one, it’s my first Group race in the UK and it means a lot.”
Sam Sangster, manager of Manton Thoroughbreds, said: “An unbelievable amount of pride with that horse crossing the line. I’m pretty much in tears behind my sunglasses. It was amazing. Brian believed in the horse from day one. We came here with, I really did feel, a big chance.
“The owners are big supporters of mine and I’m blown away. There was a reason I set the syndicate up ten years ago, to keep the colours going. We have a lot of runners, it’s been fantastic in the last couple of years. We had Isaac Shelby last year and this fellow this year. I am a bit lost for words and emotional, especially when you talk about the colours and my old man.”
