Tag Archive for: Jack Channon

Oaks option open for Caernarfon after fine Guineas effort

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Jack Channon will not rule out the possibility of running Caernarfon in the Betfred Oaks after she stayed on well to finish fourth in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.

The daughter of Cityscape had won twice last term, signing off with success in the Listed Montrose Fillies’ Stakes over course and distance.

Having the first run of her three-year-old season in the mile Classic, Connor Beasley’s mount made up plenty of ground and was never nearer than at the finish in very testing soft ground.

Though she had no chance with winner Mawj and runner-up Tahiyra, who put over seven lengths between themselves and third-placed Matilda Picotte, Channon was more than satisfied.

“We were absolutely chuffed with her,” said the West Ilsley handler, who has this season taken over the training licence from his father, Mick.

“We knew once we had that rain, not so much that she needs soft ground, we just suspected all spring that a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half might be her optimum – that’s why we stuck her in the Oaks and the French Oaks – we thought the rain might slow it up (for others).

“It looked to be a very good race and they took six lengths out of them, three (furlongs) down, and she’s done extremely well to stay on all the way to the line.

“She has picked up two Group One-winning two-year-old fillies in the final furlong and I think it was strong form, and I was chuffed with her run.”

Caernarfon’s sire won over nine furlongs, although he was only tried once over 10, while her unraced dam is by Group One-winning sprinter Royal Applause.

However, while not bred to star over 12 furlongs, she has shown all the right signs that she could be a force, should she line up in the Epsom fillies’ Classic.

Channon added: “She could well be an Oaks filly. It is a big step up from a mile to a mile and a half, but I’ve always had the opinion that the best Oaks trial and the best Derby trial are in the Guineas’.

“She is an extremely well-balanced filly and she settles so well, which would give her every chance to stay if we wanted to try that.

“We have got her in over a mile and a quarter in France and we’ve also got her in over a mile and a half (at Epsom).

“We will probably look at one of those options close to the time, but we will see how she trains this week and see how she comes out of it first of all.”

Gather Ye Rosebuds aiming to bloom in Classic trial

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Jack Channon will fire Gather Ye Rosebuds at a Classic trial following her deeply impressive debut win at Newbury.

The Zoffany filly blitzed 15 rivals in a 10-furlong fillies’ maiden under Connor Beasley, romping to a nine-and-a-half-length success in soft ground.

Now the West Ilsley handler is looking to set her sights a little higher, after her surprise 33-1 success.

“She has come out of the race really well and she looks fantastic,” said Channon. “I’m really happy with the way she is progressing.

“We will probably have a look at one of the Oaks trials, maybe Lingfield (on Saturday week) or Newbury (Fillies’ Trial Stakes, May 20), I would have thought, in a couple of weeks’ time.

“She is in great form and we will aim her at one of those, I should think.”

Channon, who is in his first season with a training licence after taking over from his father, former Southampton and England international striker Mick Channon, was taken aback by the manner with which Gather Ye Rosebuds put her rivals to the sword.

He added: “I was surprised by what she did, but if you are expecting a horse to go and do that first time, then only Sir Henry (Cecil), when he had Frankel, could expect that!

“I expected her to run a nice race and I’d thought she would come on for the run. She seems to have done and we hope she is very nice.”

Gather Ye Rosebuds in full bloom for Jack Channon

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Jack Channon appears to have found a very smart prospect early in his fledgling training career in the shape of Gather Ye Rosebuds, who took apart what looked a decent field in the Dreweatts Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Newbury.

The daughter of Zoffany was sent off a relatively unconsidered 33-1 chance in a field of 16 that contained plenty of expensive purchases and blue-blooded newcomers.

But the writing was on the wall for plenty of them at halfway, as Connor Beasley cruised up into contention on Gather Ye Rosebuds.

Maman Joon, a 400,000 guineas buy for Amo Racing, and Hughie Morrison’s Mistral Star, from the family of Telecaster and second on her debut, were the only two still on the bridle with the eventual winner.

However, when Beasley asked his mount to go and win the race her response was immediate and she ploughed through the ground to beat Maman Joon by nine and a half lengths.

“She’s a very nice filly that has taken a long time to mature, and we know her family well,” said Channon of the half-sister to Certain Lad, a Group Three winner for his father, Mick.

“Mr (Paul) Shanahan and Mr (John) Magnier (owners) have shown a lot of patience with her, but she flourished in the last couple of weeks and was ready to run.

“She will handle any ground, she gets a mile and a quarter now and will stay a mile and a half in the future.

“I will talk to Mr Shanahan and Mr Magnier and we will look at something nice for her.”

He added: “Connor rode out this morning and everyone who comes and rides out for me will get opportunities.

“This is the best bunch of horses we’ve had in 10 years.”

Jack Channon looking forward to landmark day with Majestic

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Majestic started his racing career last March as a four-year-old running in a Kempton bumper. He ended it winning the Cambridgeshire.

On Saturday, he will run at Doncaster in either the Pertemps Network Lincoln or the Spring Mile as one of the first turf horses saddled by Jack Channon.

This is his first season since taking over the licence from his famous father, ex-Southampton and England striker Mick.

Mick Channon enjoyed victory on the biggest stages as a trainer
Mick Channon enjoyed victory on the biggest stages as a trainer (David Davies/PA)

He is hopeful that Majestic, owned and bred by Nick Hitchins, can follow last season’s vintage, Johan, who gave Channon senior his first success in the race.

Majestic ran eight times on the Flat last summer following his opening effort under the winter code.

He either won or was placed in six of those and capped off a great season by scoring on the Rowley Mile over nine furlongs under 5lb claimer Aidan Keeley, grandson of Classic-winning rider Brian Rouse, who was having his first ride at HQ.

“Majestic had an unconventional season but a very good one,” said Channon.

“He had a low weight in the Cambridgeshire and so we had to give someone a chance, and Aidan was the lucky man to get on board, I suppose.”

A five-year-old son of Conduit, Majestic is not guaranteed to get a run in the British Flat season’s first major handicap.

“We don’t know if we will get in, we need five to come out and it is touch and go. If we do get in, we are really looking forward to it. The horse is in great form,” added the West Ilsley handler.

“The style of the race will suit and he won’t mind the ground, so we will go there with a great chance, but if he doesn’t get in, we will go to the Spring Mile and the same applies. I think we’ll go there with a solid chance.”

Channon knows he has a big task taking the reins from his father, who scored 21 goals in 46 games for England between 1972-77 and remains Southampton’s all-time leading scorer.

Jack Channon looking forward to filling some big boots
Jack Channon looking forward to filling some big boots (Simon Marper/PA)

Having had a second hugely successful career, which included training eight Group One winners in Britain and an Irish Classic, the 74-year-old has decided to take a back seat.

“It’s big shoes to fill, 100 per cent,” said Channon, who has already posted six winners at a 20 per cent strike-rate on the all-weather. “Dad will be involved still. It is a team effort.

“All the big targets we want to be winning. We want to be competing at the top table and the Lincoln is just hopefully the first of many.

“I’m very excited and just raring to get going. A lot of the hard work has been done over the winter and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are just ready to get the racing going and see where we are and how good we are.”