Barraquero stars in Richmond Stakes

Barraquero ultimately ran out an impressive winner of the Qatar Richmond Stakes at Goodwood in the famous Sangster colours.

Third behind the potentially top-class Expert Eye on his debut, he was a six-length scorer last time out.

Upped in class by Brian Meehan, Buick made his challenge down the middle of the track, while Coventry Stakes runner-up Headway was kept to the stands rail, which did not appear the place to be.

Cardsharp made a valiant attempt to defy his penalty, but he was run out of second by Nebo, who in turn was a length and a quarter behind the 4-1 winner.

Buick said: "I was impressed with him there, I rode him first time out behind the horse who won the Vintage earlier in the week and then he won at Chepstow.

"We got a nice bit of cover from the wind. It's always a concern if they'll handle the ground and he'd prefer it better, but he's got a lot of gears and is a good two-year-old.

"It's hard to say as far as next year is concerned, but Brian has always liked him."

Meehan, winning his third Richmond Stakes, said: "I'm very excited about him, he's always been that type of horse, since the spring he's always been an exciting type.

"I was more concerned about the ground yesterday, this morning it seemed a bit more civilised.

"My other two winners were nice horses, but this is now and I think he's a Group One horse and will get further.

"I'd love to think he'll go for the Morny in two weeks, but he's got other entries."

Charlie Hills said of the runner-up: "The ground is not an excuse, the winner looked good and showed a better turn of foot than we did.

"He may have bumped into one there. He'll probably go back to seven furlongs and have a look at the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

"He's a bonny horse and time will tell if he makes a three-year-old."

Mark Johnston said of Cardsharp: "I hope it's the ground as the jockey feels it is.

"He travelled like the best horse, but they've come at him and he was unable to pick up and that is par for the course on that ground.

"I'm not ruling out going for the Prix Morny."