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Paul Hanagan to Retire on Friday

Paul Hanagan, the former dual champion jockey in Britain, has announced that he will retire from the saddle at York on Friday. The 42-year-old will take one ride at the track in the first race for Richard Fahey, the trainer with whom he has enjoyed a significant portion of his success.

Hanagan was crowned champion apprentice in 2002 and eight years later gained the first of his two consecutive championships in the senior ranks, becoming the only jockey based in the north of England to have landed the title more than once. He notched his first Group 1 victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on the Fahey-trained Wootton Bassett (GB), who is now one of the most sought-after stallions in Europe.

In 2012, Hanagan was named as first jockey for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum on the retirement of Richard Hills and was retained to ride the Shadwell horses for five years. During that period he won his first British Classic on Taghrooda (GB) in the Oaks as well as a trio of Group 1 sprints on Muhaarar (GB). Simultaneously maintaining his association with Fahey's Musley Bank Stables, he also partnered Mayson (GB) in the July Cup to post a first Group 1 in Britain for both himself and the trainer, and later Sands Of Mali (Fr) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint.

Speaking on Racing TV during the first day of York's Ebor meeting, Hanagan said, “As you can imagine it's quite emotional. It's difficult, I think any professional sportsperson will tell you, especially doing it as long as I've been doing it for.

“There are a few things involved in making my decision, I had a pretty bad fall about two years ago and I've never quite been the same after it, I fractured my back in three places. It's not so much painful riding, but it's getting to the level of fitness you need to be at to be a professional jockey and I don't think I was getting to that standard.”

He added, “Looking back, I was very proud of myself for getting where I have [after the fall]. I managed to ride a couple of Royal Ascot winners after coming back, but keeping the fitness right was causing me a bit of pain and retiring here at the Ebor meeting feels right.

“I was two-times champion jockey as a kid from Warrington without a lot of racing experience, so I keep telling kids it can be done.”

Reflecting on his career highlights, Hanagan continued, “I've been blessed to ride some beautiful horses for some wonderful people. To win a Classic on Taghrooda was special – I don't think I'll ever forget my family's faces that day.

“Muhaarar is probably one of the best sprinters I rode and I was honoured to have a five-year association with Sheikh Hamdan and I had an even longer career with Richard Fahey, who I owe a lot to.”

One of an elite band of jockeys to have ridden more than 2,000 winners, a landmark he reached in November 2020, he has had two winners in the last week, including on Macarone (GB) at Beverley for Rob Burrow, the rugby league star who is battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Hanagan will take up a new role with the Good Racing Company in the near future.

He said, “I'm really looking forward to working with The Good Racing Company, a charity that raises funds for different charities, namely working with Rob Burrow, and I'm going to be guiding them on which horses to buy.

“I rode Rob Burrow's first winner at Beverley the other day and that was very special. I've been riding for 26 years and it would be criminal of me not to do something more in racing.”

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Gosden Talks Up Emily Upjohn For Oaks At Gallops Morning

John Gosden has labelled Cazoo Oaks favourite Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as being in the same league as Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who he first won the Epsom Classic with in 2014, after overseeing the unbeaten filly work at the track on Monday morning.

Emily Upjohn is a general even-money shot to provide Gosden with a fourth Oaks success following a stylish victory in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York earlier this month.

Gosden, who shares his training licence with his son Thady, also won the Oaks with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in 2017 and Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in 2019, and is set to be double-handed in this year's race after Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was confirmed for Epsom on Saturday.

Speaking at the the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning, Gosden said, “I think she [Emily Upjohn] is in the Taghrooda league. It would be silly to start talking about Enable as that would be completely over the top.”

He added, “It is her ability to travel and quicken over a trip that reminds me of Taghrooda. I know they were playing, if you like, coming down the hill at a half-speed but even the way she quickened today between the three and the two was impressive.”

Emily Upjohn has raced just three times in her career and, according to Gosden, the experience of Monday's dry run around Epsom will stand to the short-priced favourite come June 3.

Gosden said, “Frankie (Dettori) felt that for a filly who has had three races in her life it would be nice to come here and just have a look and feel of the track, which is all that you are doing as you are not trying to do any exploratory work.

“She behaved great, moved very well, got her leads right coming down the hill and quickened up nicely. I think she will come on a lot for that mentally. She is not a filly who raced a lot at two as she only had the one run at Wolverhampton, but you can see by the size of the frame of her why we were patient.”

He added, “She has filled out well and she has rather enjoyed her morning out here. I would hope she has got the speed for the Oaks as she has shown an ability to quicken. The other day in the Musidora she quickened well there at York.

“She did it well at Wolverhampton and at Sandown she sat very handy, then lengthened off the front. She has a change of gear.”

Gosden's Oaks hand is strengthened by the fact that Nashwa, a general 5-1 chance, is second only to her stablemate Emily Upjohn in the betting, with the trainer hopeful rather than confident that she will get the trip at Epsom.

He said, “They [Nashwa and Emily Upjohn] have never worked together and it won't be my intention to do so. This filly [Emily Upjohn] is guaranteed to stay a mile and a half. With Nashwa the speed she has shown it wouldn't be guaranteed she gets a mile and a half.”

Nashwa's participation in the Cazoo Oaks also throws up the possibility of a first ever Classic success for a female jockey, with Hollie Doyle set to ride.

Gosden added: “When Mr Imad Al Sagar asked me about Hollie two or three years ago I said she is a superb jockey that is very talented and horses run for her.

“She has an incredible work ethic. She reminds me a lot of Julie Krone. From my point of view she has been the ultimate jockey type and so I said it is a great idea if you retain her and he did.

“She looks at every detail of everything. She does her research properly and is a great race rider and if it came off it would be wonderful.”

He added, “You had a young lady win the US Open and that captured the imagination in this country and anything to that extent like this is particularly positive for the sport. It has had an image of being a bit crusty and clubby, but it is not.”

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Raabihah Joins Shadwell Broodmare Band

Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a group winner at three and four for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget in the Shadwell blue, is among the fillies to join the Shadwell broodmare band this year; the 5-year-old will be bred to Dubawi (Ire). The winner of three of her first four starts in 2020, including the G3 Prix de Psyche and the Listed Prix de la Seine, Raabihah was second to Tarnawa (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille before finishing fifth behind Sottsass (Fr) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Raabihah returned last year to add the G2 Prix de Pomone and was retired after finishing 12th in the latest renewal of the Arc.

Another of Shadwell's daughters of Sea The Stars, the G1 Oaks and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Taghrooda (GB), produced a Kingman (GB) filly last year and is due to foal this season to Lope De Vega (Ire) on a late cover, after which she will be rested. It was announced last week that Taghrooda's second foal, the twice-winning Almighwar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), would take up stud duties at Garryrichard Stud.

Shadwell sends its five-length G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) to Sea The Stars this year after she foals a Dubawi.

Among the Shadwell mares expecting Kingman babies this season are the five-time group-winning stayer Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}); Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the dam of the dual Group 1-winning Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}); and the multiple group-winning Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Handassa is booked back to Kingman for 2022, while Tarfasha visits Ghaiyyath (Ire) and Enbihaar visits Mohaather (GB). She is among a handful of high-quality mares that Shadwell is sending to its G1 Sussex S. winner, and those also include the aforementioned Nazeef.

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Tattersalls Releases February Sale Catalogue

A 2-year-old half-sister to Classic winner and champion filly Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by Awtaad (Ire) is among the highlight lots of the Tattersalls February Sale on Feb. 3 and 4, for which the catalogue was released on Wednesday.

Consigned by New England Stud, the daughter of the multiple listed-winning Ezima (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) (lot 82) is part of a continued reduction from breeder Shadwell. Shadwell consigns two broodmares and eight yearlings at the sale under its own banner, with many more spread out among other drafts. New England's draft of 2-year-olds for Shadwell also includes a colt by Sea The Stars out of the G1 Oaks runner-up and multiple stakes producer Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 80); a Dubawi (Ire) colt out of the listed-winning Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 81), herself a half-sister to four stakes horses including the Group 1-winning Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass); and a Cracksman (GB) colt (lot 69) out of a winning full-sister to Group 1 winners Salve Regina (Ger), Schiaparelli (Ger) and Samum (Ger).

Barton Sales's draft of 57-the largest in the book-includes 10 fillies and 30 colts and geldings in and out of training from Shadwell. Among the highlights are Hamaayel (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) (lot 145), an unraced 3-year-old full-sister to GI E.P. Taylor S. winner Blond Me (Ire); Waajeeha (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 58), a 4-year-old unraced daughter of G3 Cumberland Lodge S. winner Hawaafez (GB) (Nayef); and an unnamed 4-year-old filly by Kingman out of the multiple Group 3-winning Mashoora (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) (lot 56).

Godolphin offers 47 lots including New Style (Street Cry {Ire}) (lot 170), a half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner and sire Dream Ahead and to the dam of dual Group 1 winner Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in foal to Kodiac; Heaven's Angel (Ire) (Henrythenavigator) (lot 172), a half-sister to Oaks winner Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in foal to Siyouni (Fr); Prefer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 173), a sister to seven stakes horses including the G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in foal to Kingman (GB); Luceita (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) (lot 171), a half-sister to the G2 Rockfel S. winner and multiple Group 1 and Classic-placed Lucida (Ire) (Shamardal) from the family of American champion English Channel in foal to Invincible Spirit (Ire); and Painted Daisy (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}) (lot 163), an unraced 3-year-old half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Hunter's Light (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and to the dam of G2 Hardwicke S. winner Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

The Juddmonte draft includes the unraced 3-year-old filly Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 138), a descendant of Hasili (GB)'s dam Kerali; and Aquiano (GB) (Equiano {GB}) (lot 139), an unraced 3-year-old filly out of a winning full-sister to Bated Breath (GB).

Additional sisters to Group 1 winners catalogued include Rooful (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) (lot 124), a winning 4-year-old half-sister to G1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}); Gift Horse (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) (lot 208), a winning 3-year-old half-sister to G1 Golden Shaheen S. winner Krypton Factor (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}); and Santiki (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (lot 131), a 4-year-old half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Behkabad (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}). G3 Anglesey S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. third Walk On Bye (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) (lot 37) is catalogued in foal to Without Parole (GB).

“The Tattersalls February Sale continues to be a source of high-quality breeding stock and horses in training, with the dams of three individual Group/Grade 1 winners in 2021 a prime example,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “There is no shortage of top-class breeding stock in this year's catalogue headlined by major consignments from Shadwell Estates and Godolphin, which will undoubtedly appeal to the usual diverse mix of domestic and international buyers who have made the Tattersalls February Sale Europe's undisputed leading midwinter sale.”

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