Tag: Rockcliffe Stud

Snow Lantern Delivers ‘Very Special’ Redemption For Richard Hannon In Falmouth

Trainer Richard Hannon hailed Snow Lantern's victory in Friday's Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes as “very special” and admitted he was relieved to have settled a score eight years after her mother's defeat by a neck in the same race.

The three year old Frankel filly and jockey Sean Levey were the decisive winners of the Group One feature contest on day two of the Moët & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket, defeating QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth (5-1) and a high class field.

Afterwards Hannon admitted the result provided some compensation following the defeat of her dam, Sky Lantern, in 2013 when the winner Elusive Kate kept the race after a stewards' enquiry.

Owned and bred by the Keswick family's Rockclife Stud, Snow Lantern prevailed by half a length, with Alcohol Free, the 5-2 favorite, another neck away in third.

Hannon said: “It is very special because there was a score to settle in terms of Sky Lantern a few years ago. The stud, Rockcliffe Stud, hadn't bred a Group One winner until today.

“We went to York to try and bag a Listed races but it didn't work out. She has learned to settle since then and I always thought she was not just good, but extremely good – this filly has a pedigree.

The Richard Hannon-trained Sky Lantern wins the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot 2013

“Sky Lantern is by Red Clubs and she was exceptional and I think this filly is exceptional. She has that pedigree being a Frankel out of a Classic-winning mare. She was a little bit unlucky in the Coronation, as you know, and she looked exceptional when she won her novice at Newbury.

“Normally in the Falmouth there are two or three nice fillies but all the good fillies were there today and she showed how good she is and what she is capable of.

“All you feel is relief more than anything. After she ran at York you are out on a limb and she needed to do something otherwise you look a bit of a plonker. I think she showed that at Royal Ascot on ground that probably didn't suit her.

“She has been working absolutely awful, as she does, and I took her to Newbury and she worked moderately there. She is one of those fillies that is not moody or anything but she just doesn't do a lot at home, but she is extremely good.

“I'm delighted for Rockcliffe Stud after everything that has gone on with the mare and she has always created a lot of interest and a big following. Of course you feel immense pleasure but it is more relief than anything.”

Asked about the way the race unfolded for jockey Levey, Hannon added: “She looked like she was going to struggle for room and if you struggle for room it is generally because you have not got the horse but he had the horse and it is great for him.

“Sean is riding great but a winner like this does an awful lot for him and for us. I think I shouted down there and I never shout because as soon as I shout they tend to stop.

“You look around and all the people were looking at you but they were shouting louder than me. She is a Frankel and he is having a phenomenal year, but her revs are a little bit high sometimes.

“She will get a mile and a quarter I think. She is in Nassau and the Sussex Stakes. I'd probably say she would go to the fillies' race (the 10-furlong Nassau Stakes at Goodwood). She is also in the Juddmonte International. I'm very hopeful she will stay in training next year. I love her.

“These Group One races you need to be at your best and there are no weak ones at all. I'm delighted to win one and not be unlucky for a change.”

On Sky Lantern he added: “You don't want to win a race in the stewards' room and when the day is over and I think 'do you want to win a race in that way?' That is done and today is great all these years on.”

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of runner-up Mother Earth, said: “She ran very well and we're delighted with her run. I'm not too sure in terms of where next – there may be a fillies' race in France for her but we'll wait and see how she is.

“We'll keep her to these fillies' races. We could try her over further but she's got plenty of speed.”

Oisin Murphy, the jockey of third home Alcohol Free, said: “She relaxed well in front and I just felt the race went to plan apart from at the three (furlong pole) when we got racing a little early. I tried to save horse but the last 50 yards told.”

Kieran Shoemark, who was aboard fourth home, Lady Bowthorpe, added: “It was a good run and I think the 10 furlongs of the Nassau Stakes (at Goodwood) will really suit her. She'll get the extra two furlongs easy and she was unlucky here.

“She didn't get the splits so I had to switch out and she's run well. I have no doubts that she's the best filly in the race.”

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Frankel’s Snow Lantern Prevails In Falmouth Thriller

Friday's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket had the look of a vintage renewal and so it proved with the 3-year-olds in charge led by Rockcliffe Stud's 'TDN Rising Star' Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Runner-up to Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the mud in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18, the 6-1 shot was more settled this time buried against the far rail in mid-division with that rival in front on that side. Eased out by Sean Levey inside the final two furlongs, the grey daughter of the high-class Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) finished off strongly up the rising ground to overwhelm Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the dying yards of a pulsating race. At the line, there was half a length between her and that rival who had been third in the Coronation, with the 5-2 favourite Alcohol Free a neck back in third the same margin ahead of the best of the older fillies and mares, Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).

“From my point of view, it was fairly straightforward, as the main thing is that she had to settle,” Levey commented. “We came out of the pocket late enough, but I always had the filly and she picked up up the hill and hit the line strong. She's always been exciting and with her breeding, it was very easy for everyone to get ahead of themselves a little bit, but she's proven now what we thought of her was true.”

Introduced over seven furlongs at Ascot in July, Snow Lantern was a promising second to the subsequent G2 May Hill S. third Zabeel Queen (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) but was not seen again until making a successful return at the expense of future 'Rising Star' Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a Newbury maiden over this trip Apr. 18. Only third behind Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. again at this distance at York May 14, the homebred was too free on that occasion and still showed signs of that tendency during the early part of the Coronation before putting in a strong finish to gain the silver medal. Having met traffic late on in that feature, it was to be expected that with normal improvement on more suitable ground she could turn the tables on Alcohol Free here, but the betting suggested not, as Jeff Smith's runner was heavily-backed.

While Snow Lantern settled ideally with so much cover, that proved a double-edged sword with Sean Levey trapped against the fence with a clutch of fillies gathered around him. Up ahead, Oisin Murphy had taken the initiative on the favourite, who was comfortable on the front end, with Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) pinned on the rail directly ahead of the eventual winner and Mother Earth sticking close. The previously unbeaten Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) drifted from the centre to join Alcohol Free by halfway and two out, the main sufferers of the clustered pack were Snow Lantern, Primo Bacio and Lady Bowthorpe, with the latter forced to angle far wide for her customary potent late effort. Once in the clear, there were two lengths for the Hannon filly to make up on Alcohol Free and Mother Earth a furlong from home, but the combination of Frankel's power and her dam's trademark deadly acceleration saw her cut down her peers in impressive fashion.

Added Levey: “They went a nice pace and the only thing I didn't expect was that they would come far side, but Oisin [Murphy] thought it would be a benefit to go there, and so I was crying to get out of the pocket. I followed Pretty Gorgeous and I was further back than I wanted to be while he [Murphy] was getting a dream run. Ryan [Moore, on Mother Earth] came off the bridle way before I did and I did think it would be very hard to get out of there. I lost a couple of lengths swinging around them, but she got enough momentum to go by them. Her mother wasn't the most straightforward and with that Frankel in her, she is very eager to please–it is hard to keep a lid on her and you can't force her or she could go the other way.

“They've done a massive job on her at home and she's getting into a great routine–she settled as well as she ever has there and it's all come to fruition now. The way she came in after the race, she'd learnt a little bit and so should keep progressing.”

Richard Hannon has made no secret of his belief in the winner and his primary feeling was no surprise.

“It's a relief more than anything,” he said. “Sky Lantern was a freak, as she wasn't meant to be that good, but this one has the pedigree and so has always created a lot of interest and pressure. After York, I felt she had to do something and I was so pleased and disappointed at the same time after Royal Ascot. Today was an extremely good race and a real championship race, so to win the way she did was great.”

Despite all her achievements, the 2013 renewal of this race was one that got away for Sky Lantern after she had been carried across the track when narrowly beaten by Elusive Kate (Elusive Quality). For Hannon, there was a sense of justice in the outcome of this year's contest.

“Elusive Kate was a very good filly, but there was a score to settle,” he added. “The dam was brilliant, but I always thought that this filly was as good if not better and she'll get 10 [furlongs]. She is in the [July 29 G1] Nassau [at Goodwood] and the [July 28 G1] Sussex [at Goodwood] and the [Aug. 18 G1] Juddmonte International [at York], but that was her day and there is no pressure now. She can go everywhere and we can enjoy it–anything else now would be great. As far as a mile is concerned, I think if it's not broken don't fix it and she'd be taking on different animals over a mile and a quarter so we'll see.”

Sky Lantern was an earlier developer than her daughter, winning the G1 Moyglare Stud S. in six starts as a juvenile which also included an unlucky trip in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Snow Lantern is thus far the only filly from six foals out of the G1 1000 Guineas, the G1 Coronation S. and the G1 Sun Chariot S. winner. Her other produce include the 2-year-old First Emperor (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and 2020 and 2021 sons of Kingman (GB).

A half-sister to four black-type performers including the G3 Queen's Vase-winning stayer Shanty Star (Ire) (Hector Protector) and the G3 Round Tower S.-winning sprinter Arctic (Ire) (Shamardal), she is also the third dam of the talented Second Thought (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who was a triple listed scorer and runner-up in the G2 Sandy Lane S. Sky Lantern is a granddaughter of Negligent (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), the champion 2-year-old filly in England in 1989 courtesy of her win in the G3 Rockfel S. who was later third in her 1000 Guineas.

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
TATTERSALLS FALMOUTH S.-G1, £215,500, Newmarket, 7-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:35.93, g/f.
1–SNOW LANTERN (GB), 124, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sky Lantern (Ire) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Ire, $1,252,123), by Red Clubs (Ire)
2nd Dam: Shawanni (GB), by Shareef Dancer
3rd Dam: Negligent (Ire), by Ahonoora (GB)
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £122,210. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1, $312,406. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mother Earth (Ire), 124, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £46,333.
3–Alcohol Free (Ire), 124, f, 3, No Nay Never–Plying, by Hard Spun. (€40,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV). O-J C Smith; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £23,188.
Margins: HF, NK, NK. Odds: 6.00, 5.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: Lady Bowthorpe (GB), Primo Bacio (Ire), Just Beautiful (GB), Pretty Gorgeous (Fr), Lavender's Blue (Ire), Indie Angel (Ire), Queen Power (Ire), Saffron Beach (Ire), Illykato (GB), Champers Elysees (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Hannon Looking At “Bigger Picture” With Snow Lantern

Trainer Richard Hannon said he and the team behind Rockcliffe Stud's homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) opted to bypass Sunday's G1 1000 Guineas with a view towards the “bigger picture,” which could include engagements in races like the G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Coronation S., G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Falmouth S. as well as a 4-year-old campaign. Snow Lantern became the subject of Guineas talk immediately after breaking her maiden in eye-catching fashion at Newbury on Apr. 18.

“It was a team decision,” said Hannon of the call to skip Newmarket this weekend. “She's by a Guineas [winner] out of a Guineas winner [Sky Lantern], so the 1000 Guineas looked her race, but you've got to look at the bigger picture. She has been lightly raced up to now. She's a very heavy filly, and they are looking to keep her as a 4-year-old. They don't want to throw her into the deep end right now. I hold her in the highest regard–I think she could be even better than her mum.”

Hannon, who also trained Sky Lantern, said Snow Lantern can be “a bit of a madam.”

“She's a bit difficult; she can be a bit keen and can be a bit of a madam. But you don't mind that when they have the talent and ability she has. I've never known a horse look so much like her mum, so much so I got Hughesie [former jockey Richard Hughes, who rode Sky Lantern] to sit on her when he was down one morning. He didn't feel this filly had the same sort of speed, but I think she had an off-day.

“I think she's a miler personally. She won very well at Newbury, and I think she's very good. Although it's a shame to miss the Guineas, it will give us the opportunity to look at big targets in the summer.”

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