Tag: Richard Hannon

‘I Wouldn’t Swap Him’ – Hannon Has Confidence In Guineas Hope Rosallion

Richard Hannon has said there is not one horse that he would swap Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) for and reported the Group 1 winner to be firmly on course for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4. 

Previously described as “right up there with the best we've ever had” by his handler, Rosallion is a general 8-1 chance for Classic glory at Newmarket. 

His big day in the sun last year came when storming to G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere glory and confidence is clearly high in the camp that Rosallion can give short-priced 2,000 Guineas favourite City Of Troy (Justify) something to think about. 

Hannon said, “Rosallion is in great form and he's had a canter upsides Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) on the grass. Timmy Murphy rides him every day and was delighted with him. It wasn't a massively informative piece of work but it was just one of those where we thought we would give him a little bit while it was a nice morning and the grass is nice.”

He added, “I would like to give him a trial, but I won't run him anywhere where there is soft ground. He could just go straight to the 2,000 Guineas. I'm going to take him to either Kempton or Newbury two or three weeks before the trials, so if he does go straight to the Guineas, he will be plenty quick enough. My view of him hasn't changed–there is not a horse I would rather have other than him.”

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Blue Point’s Rosallion Brilliant In The Lagardere

   Beautiful sunshine bathed ParisLongchamp on its biggest day and Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere proved a fitting opener to the action with Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Rosaline {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) dominating the closing stages of this up-to-scratch renewal. Brilliant in Ascot's Listed Pat Eddery S. in July but disappointing when third in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster last month, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred was truly on song here to provide Sean Levey with all the good vibrations in this qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Anchored in rear early from his compromising wide draw, the Richard Hannon-trained relative of some of the owner-breeder's best recent performers was finally unleashed 300 metres from the finish as Ryan Moore sent Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for home. Accelerating impressively as he had done at Ascot to swamp that rival inside the last half furlong, the generously-priced 6-1 shot had a length to spare at the line as the too-keen previously-unbeaten TDN Rising Star and even-money favourite Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) wound up 1 1/2 lengths behind in third.

“He felt exceptional today,” Levey said of the live 2000 Guineas contender who was providing his first-crop sire sensation with his first Group 1 winner and setting a new track record into the bargain. “At Doncaster, when I asked him he didn't know what to do on that soft ground and he's still so babyish. He has a great mind though and he'll keep learning. He had to overcome a lot today from that draw and was a bit confused when I restrained him, especially in the false straight. I was always going to win today. He had his ground and that's how good he is.”

Rosallion, who had struck on debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury just before Royal Ascot, had set almost the benchmark in terms of British-trained juveniles in the Pat Eddery, where the likes of Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) had trailed in his wake. Hannon had kept the faith after the Champagne and was relieved with this justification, completed in course-record time ahead of the previous 1:18.40 set by this race's winner Naaqoos (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in 2008.

“It was very sticky ground at Doncaster and he hated it, but I was so disappointed–I couldn't believe he got beat. We scoped him afterwards and everything was fine and the only thing I can put it down to was the ground. Sean was as gutted as I was at Doncaster–I don't think he said a word to me after he got beat in the Champagne S. He couldn't believe it either, that's the sort of horse he is. Today was a recovery mission and you don't generally come to the Lagardere on a recovery mission, as it takes an extremely good horse to win it but he showed today that he's the horse we thought he was.”

“We'll look forward to the Guineas now for next year,” Hannon added. “I wouldn't rule out the Breeders' Cup, but I'm very happy to look forward to the Guineas. I haven't had much luck at the Breeders' Cup, obviously it's got to change at some stage but I think it's unlikely.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Unquestionable and the pace-setting Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never), who finished fourth, “The trip was okay and both will be fine at a mile. Ryan said Unquestionable could be a horse for America, so we will look at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf after seeing how they are. Unquestionable is definitely a Guineas horse, we will see which one next year.”

Yann Barberot said of Beauvatier, who recorded the race's fastest individual split between the two and the one at :10.56 but who was too free throughout the early stages, “We have been helped by the quick ground, but you need a colt with a lot of speed to win the Lagardere and he is not made for speed. In future, he will run over 1600 metres or even 2000 metres. I am very happy with him, he performed well. He found himself a bit behind at the start of the race, because he was impeded by the Andre Fabre-trained horse who pulled a lot.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Rosallion's unraced dam Rosaline is one of the progeny of the owner-breeder's sensational producer Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), whose seven black-type performers include this year's G1 Queen Anne S. hero Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Rosaline is a full-sister to the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein victor Ostilio (GB), while other Reem Three notables are the G3 Bengough S. winner Cape Byron (GB) by Blue Point's sire Shamardal and this year's Listed Heron S. winner Captain Winters (GB) whose sire Lope De Vega is also by Shamardal. The third dam is Jumaireyah (GB) (Fairy King), herself responsible for the G2 Celebration Mile and G3 Sovereign S. winner and GI Arlington Million runner-up Afsare (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Next up from Rosaline is a yearling colt by Make Believe (GB).

 

 

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE (GRAND CRITERIUM)-G1, €400,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-1, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:18.23 (NTR), g/s.
1–ROSALLION (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Rosaline (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Reem Three (GB), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Jumaireyah (GB), by Fairy King
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. €228,560. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Eng, 4-3-0-1, €281,758. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Unquestionable (Fr), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€340,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore & Westerberg; B-Mme Camille Vitse, Mme Axelle Vitse, Mme Valentine Vitse & Guillaume Vitse (FR); T-Aidan O'Brien. €91,440.
3–Beauvatier (Fr), 126, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Enchanting Skies (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€160,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Philippe Allaire & Haras d'Etreham; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd & Mme Barbara M Keller (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €45,720.
Margins: 1, 1HF, 1. Odds: 6.10, 7.10, 1.00.
Also Ran: Henry Adams (Ire), Zabiari (GB), Native American (Ire), Jayarebe (Fr), Ballymount Boy (Ire), Evade (Fr), West Man (Ger). Scratched: Johannes Brahms (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Goffs September HIT Sale Sees 70 Sold

Wednesday's Goffs September HIT Sale at Doncaster saw 70 lots sold, headlined by drafts from Gigginstown House Stud and Gordon Elliott and NH 2YO stores. A total of 89 head were offered, down from 113 last season, amassing £697,500, down from £1,294,200 for 106 sold in 2022. Average dipped to £9,964 from £12,210 as did the median, dropping from £8,500 to £6,750 this term.

Trade was topped by Champ de Gane (Lot 68), a horse in training from Newlands Farm who was purchased by Kevin Jardine for £33,000. Other lots to feature were Pickanumber (Lot 110), a horse in training from Ballyfree House Stables, who was knocked down to Olly Murphy Racing for £30,000, and Signcastle City (Lot 22), a winning horse-in-training from East Everleigh Stables, which was knocked down to his trainer Richard Hannon for £27,000.

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Dark Angel’s Heredia On Top In The Atalanta

St Albans Bloodstock's 4-year-old homebred filly Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Nakuti {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) took seven attempts to make a stakes breakthrough, doing so in last month's Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. at Haydock, and continued her belated rise up the ladder with a career high in Saturday's G3 Virgin Bet Atalanta S. at Sandown.

The Richard Hannon trainee settled into a smooth rhythm after breaking from the outside stall and raced in rear for most of this one-mile test. Making eyecatching headway out wide once into the straight, the 5-2 favourite quickened stylishly to challenge passing the furlong pole and was ridden out up the hill to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length from Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Potapova (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) just got he better of Novus (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) by a pixel in a ding-dong tussle in behind and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third.

“She was drawn 10 of 10, which makes things a lot more difficult, but they didn't go overly quick and Sean [Levey] had to come a bit wide,” said Hannon. “After her last run I thought she would run very well and she is clearly in the form of her life. We were talking about some of the big races in America and she has justified going for one or two of those opportunities after this. I thought we would be lucky to win a Listed race earlier in the year, but she has thrived throughout the year. For St Albans Bloodstock, who bred her, they admitted she gave them one of them one of the best days of their lives when she won at Royal Ascot [in last year's Sandringham]. She won a Listed race last time and no one was there, but they were here today and it is a great day for them. She looks great, but she is carrying a bit of weight as she is getting older. She was a very fast 2-year-old and she won first time. She won't be going Stateside until she is a squeezed lemon [here], but it is up to them and I think they have got to try a big one in my name before one of those big trainers in America gets her.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Heredia, the 57th pattern-race scorer for her sire, mirrored the feat of Nakuti (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in winning this test, her dam being a half-sister to GII Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}). Heredia is full to a weanling colt and a half to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Arch Legend (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and a yearling filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire). Her third dam Sheba's Step (Alysheba) produced multiple stakes-winning G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris second Arch Rebel (Arch) and the stakes-winning On My Dime (Mizzen Mast). Sheba's Step, herself a daughter of GI Hollywood Oaks heroine Pattern Step (Nureyev), is also the second dam of GIII Robert J. Frankel S. victrix Customer Base (Lemon Drop Kid). Descendants of Pattern Step include GI Canadian International victor Bullards Alley (Flower Alley), GI Arkansas Derby-winning sire Archarcharch (Arch) and last term's G2 German 2000 Guineas victor and G1 St James's Palace S. fourth Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio).

Saturday, Sandown, Britain
VIRGIN BET ATALANTA S.-G3, £80,000, Sandown, 9-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:44.38, gd.
1–HEREDIA (GB), 132, f, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Nakuti (Ire) (GSW-Eng & GSP-Can, $184,647), by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sheba Five, by Five Star Day
3rd Dam: Sheba's Step, by Alysheba
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-1, $233,691. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Queen For You (Ire), 127, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Fallen For You (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £17,200.
3–Potapova (GB), 132, m, 5, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Safina (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £8,608.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 2.50, 6.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Novus (Ire), Roman Mist (Ire), Purplepay (Fr), Mysterious Love (Ire), Nibras Angel (GB), Coppice (GB), Midnight Mile (Ire).

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