Tag Archive for: Richard Hannon

Ziggy’s Phoenix rises to Chester challenge for Middleham one-two

/in /by

Ziggy’s Phoenix was away well and made every yard of the running to lead home a Middleham Park Racing one-two in the CAA Stellar Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes at Chester.

The Richard Hannon-trained filly won from the front at Ripon when breaking her duck on her second start and it was a similar story sent off the 9-4 favourite on the Roodee.

Handed a plum draw in stall one, the daughter of Kodiac pinged the gates in the hands of Ryan Moore, and having burned off Balon D’Or – who matched the winner stride for stride until the home straight – held on gamely when fellow Middleham Park runner Ziggy’s Dream, began to fly in the closing stages.

In the aftermath she was handed a quote of 14-1 by both Paddy Power and Betfair for the Queen Mary Stakes over the same five-furlong trip at Royal Ascot.

Middleham Park’s Mike Prince said: “Ziggy’s Phoenix was smart from the stalls, she’s an uncomplicated filly with plenty of speed and just bossed it from the front really.

“Interestingly, Ziggy’s Dream might be the horse to take form the race as she missed it (the break) and finished like a train. If you ran the race again would the result be different? It might well be.

“We think they’re both black-type fillies so that’s what we’d be planning with them next.

“There’s the National Stakes at Sandown and there’s a Listed race at Vichy as well. It will probably be one of those, maybe the National Stakes for Ziggy’s Phoenix.

“I’m sure Tim (Palin, syndicate manager) will be plotting with Richard and plotting with Alice (Haynes, trainer of Ziggy’s Dream) where to go. We might keep them apart next time and they might come together again at Royal Ascot.”

Hannon anticipating retirement for recovering Mojo Star

/in /by

Mojo Star, who sustained an injury when making his return to action at Newbury last month, is on the mend but looks set to be retired from racing.

The Richard Hannon-trained Classic and Ascot Gold Cup runner-up finished lame when fourth to Grand Alliance in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury.

The five-year-old, who was second in Adayar’s Derby and occupied the same spot behind Hurricane Lane in the St Leger before finding only Kyprios too good in last year’s Gold Cup, was making his seasonal return after a 310-day lay-off.

His injury was not life-threatening and after being treated by vet Jamie O’Gorman, the son of Sea The Stars looks primed to enjoy stallion duties after a nine-race career that has seen him earn just shy of £543,000 in prize=money.

“He is back here now, but I would say he probably won’t race again,” said the East Everleigh handler.

“He’s always had issues with his joints and he’s quite a heavy horse who has always had problems all his life.

“He’s back home now though, although I would say he is doubtful to race again. I think he will go back to Ireland, where they will get him a job as a stallion.

“He was second in three massive races, the Derby, the Leger and in the Gold Cup. He’s still here and he’ll enjoy life, which is the most important thing.”

Meanwhile, Hannon’s hopes that Mammas Girl would keep her unbeaten record in the Qipco 1000 Guineas were dashed when she finished 16 lengths behind Mawj at Newmarket on Sunday.

Winner of a seven-furlong novice at the same track in October, the daughter of Havana Grey landed the Group Three Nell Gwyn on her first start as a three-year-old.

Mammas Girl found the ground against her in the Guineas
Mammas Girl found the ground against her in the Guineas (Tim Goode/PA)

However, having raced prominently in the early stages in the mile fillies’ Classic, she weakened late on under Kevin Stott in very soft ground, eventually finishing 11th of the 20 runners.

Hannon said: “Mammas Girl is fine. The ground was shocking really, but that’s nobody’s fault.

“She will show her true self, probably at Royal Ascot in the Coronation on fast ground and hopefully she will run much better.”

Shouldvebeenaring an early wedding gift for Levey

/in /by

Shouldvebeenaring proved his versatility by handling the step up to seven furlongs with aplomb in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket.

A money-spinner for his Middleham Park connections last season when he won a valuable sales race at York and a Listed race at Ripon, he had been spotted running on strongly in his last two races over six furlongs.

Stepped up to seven furlongs, having finished a close fifth in the Spring Cup at Newbury over the distance, the Richard Hannon-trained three-year-old appeared to relish it.

Dropped out as the field were taking along at a strong pace set by Arabian Storm and Benacre, there were almost five in a line heading into the dip.

Sean Levey delivered his challenge furthest away from the stands, but he quickened up smartly to win by three-quarters of a length. Benacre stuck on gamely for second, with Arabian Storm third.

The winner was an apt one for Levey, who gets married on Monday to long-term partner Toni Vaughan.

Hannon said: “It’s Sean’s wedding on Monday and I’ve got one or two (rings) I can lend him!

“He’s not a big horse, but he’s one of the bravest – he’s got the heart of a lion. I thought he’d get seven furlongs and he did get it very well.

“He’s barely ever run a bad race. He’s been on the go a bit, but he thrives on that. I’m delighted for the horse because he didn’t cost a lot of money (£40,000) and he’s a little gem.

“We’ll look at something like the Jersey (at Royal Ascot) and there’s a nice race at Epsom before that (Surrey Stakes). He’ll handle anything and can go anywhere, but Ascot is where these guys want to be.”

Levey said: “It’s a big day (on Monday) and that has helped pay for some of it, but not enough! I’m excited about it though and looking forward to it.

“He always turns up no matter what and he’s just so straightforward.

“They’ve gone a good gallop today and that’s why I’ve always been convinced he wants six furlongs because he gets that gallop then. Over seven, if they go a bit steadier, it doesn’t suit him.

“They’ve gone a true gallop there today and he keeps finding that little bit more. Now that he’s shown he can run against these better type of horses and beat them, there’s more opportunities for him.

“It’s hard to say where his limits are.”

Mojo Star racing career could be over after finishing lame at Newbury

/in /by

Mojo Star – runner-up in two Classics and the Ascot Gold Cup for Richard Hannon – could be retired after he finished lame in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The five-year-old, who was second in Adayar’s Derby and occupied the same spot behind Hurricane Lane in the St Leger before finding only Kyprios too good in last year’s Gold Cup, was making his seasonal return after a 310-day lay-off.

The lightly-raced son of Sea The Stars was fourth to surprise winner Grand Alliance in the Group Three contest registered as the John Porter.

However, Kevin Stott’s mount, owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, hung in the closing stages and was taken to a nearby veterinary hospital in a horse ambulance.

Hannon said: “He came in lame and has gone straight to the vets in Newbury to Jamie O’Gorman.

Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup
Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

“He has a bit of a history, so that’s why he doesn’t run too often.

“That’s all we know at the moment – he was lame and it doesn’t look great. But he is a horse who has been a big part of our lives for five years.

“He is a class horse. He is a gentleman and also a horse very close to his owner’s heart. He is in the best place and he’ll be fine.

“Whether he continues his racing career or not, is probably doubtful. He has given us several great days and has been a pleasure to have about.

“He’ll be OK. But he is so generous. He travelled great and then he started hanging and he thinks that’s when it happened. I would think it might be suspensory, but he has such a big heart the horse he’s run right to the line. That’s why we all love him.

“He is a very special horse.”

In-form Amo team mount dual assault on Fred Darling prize

/in /by

Olivia Maralda and Magical Sunset will try to keep up the momentum of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing as they line up in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

From 20 runners, the purple colours have been carried to success on seven occasions in the last 14 days, victories that have included Mammas Girl in the Nell Gwyn and Indestructible in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

In what appears to be a hugely competitive, yet open renewal of the seven-furlong Group Three contest more familiar as the Fred Darling, Magical Sunset and Olivia Maralda both appear to have plenty going for them.

Magical Sunset, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Kevin Stott, won three of her five races last season, signing off with victory over course and distance.

Tom Pennington, Amo’s racing manager, said: “To beat Sakheer on debut on quick ground at Windsor was impressive and she was a bit unlucky not to win the Goffs Million at the Curragh, she suffered some really bad interference at halfway.

“To then have the guts to run on and finish fourth, we were delighted with that.

“She obviously came back and won well at Leicester under James Doyle and then backed it up with the good win in the Radley Stakes at Newbury.

“We thought she would run well at Newbury but we didn’t think she would win by five lengths, so we were delighted by that.

“Richard is very happy with her and she has been showing him all the right signs at home.”

The Roger Varian-trained Olivia Maralda is drawn one, next to her stablemate. It will be her first run for the yard, having earned one win and three runner-up berths in five outings for Michael O’Callaghan last season.

Her sole success came in a maiden over course and distance before she was touched off by Meditate in the Group Two Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in September.

She was last seen finishing ninth of 14 to Commissioning in the Rockfel at Newmarket in September and makes her three-year-old debut against 13 rivals.

Pennington added: “I thought she was going to win the Debutante Stakes. She was sort of the last filly off the bridle and travelled into it very well.

“Then it was perhaps a bridge too far at Newmarket – she was just beginning to turn in her coat and it was probably just one race too many, she was over the top.

“Roger is very happy with her which is the main thing and she hasn’t missed a day this spring.”

Remarquee/Salisbury
Remarquee looked smart on debut at Salisbury (Simon Milham/PA)

Two fillies, who have each won their sole start, head the market.

Ralph Beckett’s Remarquee, a daughter of Kingman, took a seven-furlong Salisbury novice in fine style from Bresson last September, while Godolphin’s Bridestones, by Teofilo, scored with ease on her Yarmouth debut for John and Thady Gosden in October.

Beckett said: “She has done well this winter. She will need the run, but she is training well.”

Thady Gosden hopes Bridestones will continue the yard’s excellent form as she drops back a furlong.

He said: “She is a nicely-bred filly and has done well over the winter. It is a hugely competitive race, but we are looking forward to it. We will learn a bit more about her, I’m sure.”

Karl Burke, fresh from his Craven success with the Amo-owned Indestructible, saddles Swingalong, who won the Lowther at York in August before finishing four lengths behind Lezoo in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket on her last juvenile run.

Swingalong took York's Lowther and steps up to seven furlongs at Newbury
Swingalong took York’s Lowther and steps up to seven furlongs at Newbury (Mike Egerton/PA)

“She is in great form and has been training very well,” said Burke of the Showcasing filly, who steps up to seven furlongs for the first time.

“I’m confident she’ll stay the seven and we’ll make the decision about the mile after that.

“It is a competitive race, no doubt about it. There looks to be some very nice fillies in it, so it is going to be tough, but she is in good form.

“She’s matured really well and wintered very well and she looks great.”

Mammas Girl motors to deeply impressive Neill Gwyn success

/in /by

Mammas Girl added her name to the Qipco 1000 Guineas picture with a blistering display in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket.

Owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing and trained by Richard Hannon, she was an impressive winner of a course-and-distance maiden at the end of last season, but sent off 16-1 for this seven-furlong Group Three event.

However, despite her outsider status, the performance she produced was straight out of the top drawer.

Sean Levey was in no rush in the early stages as he kept the daughter of Havana Grey anchored in rear.

But the duo slowly crept their way into a position to pounce and once Levey asked his mount for maximum effort there was no filly flying home quicker – advertising her electric turn of foot to shoot two and three-quarter lengths clear of Charlie Appleby’s Fairy Cross at the line.

Her price was slashed for the Guineas in the aftermath, with both Paddy Power and Betfair going 8-1 from 50s then further knocked down to 6-1 for the opening fillies’ Classic of the new campaign. And Hannon confirmed a return to the Rowley Mile would come next.

He said: “She won very well here first time, but even so I was slightly worried about the track.

Mammas Girl ridden by jockey Sean Levey on their way to winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on day two of the bet365 Craven Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse
Mammas Girl ridden by jockey Sean Levey on their way to winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on day two of the bet365 Craven Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse (Tim Goode/PA)

“She’s very straightforward. She missed the gate today, which I was surprised at, but she’s won extremely well.

“She’s worked very well all spring and I thought she’d run very well today, although I must admit she’s surprised me slightly in the way she’s won.

“What I like about her is she’s gone slightly under the radar, but we’ve always loved her at home.

“She looks a very good filly, but all my Guineas winners were beaten in trials – Sky Lantern, Night Of Thunder and Billesdon Brook. Hopefully she bucks the trend as she’ll be coming back here, for sure.”

Joorabchian added: “It’s amazing – I can’t hold my excitement, to be honest.

“It’s very, very exciting winning a Nell Gwyn here. We’ve competed for the last few years and haven’t quite managed to get through the line.

“She was fantastic today and gave a cracking performance on her debut. We’ve always loved her and we couldn’t believe what price she was today.

“I’ve got a really big weekend (first weekend in May) as I’ve got Affirmative Lady in America and she’s going for the Kentucky Oaks, having won the Gulfstream Oaks quote convincingly.

“That means I’ve got to decide whether to go there or come here, but it’s a good decision to have to make.”

Amo Racing team looking to Mojo to be staying Star

/in /by

Mojo Star is reported to be in rude health as connections begin to plot a route back to the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Richard Hannon’s charge might have won only one of his eight starts to date, but proved himself a top-notch three-year-old by finishing second in both the Derby and the St Leger two seasons ago and split Kyprios and Stradivarius when filling the runner-up spot in the Gold Cup last summer.

That proved to be Mojo Star’s first and last start of 2022, but he is back in full work ahead of the new campaign and could be back on a racecourse within a matter of weeks.

Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing, said: “I saw Mojo Star last week and he looks fantastic. He’s working away and, touch wood, he’s sound and in great form.

“He’s moving well and Richard couldn’t be happier with him at the moment, so hopefully it’s going to be an exciting season for him.”

With Aidan O’Brien recently revealing Kyprios is a major doubt to defend his Gold Cup crown following a setback and Stradivarius retired, the staying division appears wide open.

Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup
Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

Pennington added: “You hate to see horses like Kyprios falling away as while it obviously makes it easier for us, you want to beat those horses on merit.

“We monitor Mojo Star on a daily basis, but at the moment he’s going fantastic, he looks a picture and hasn’t missed a day.

“We have made a few plans, but the dream would be to go to Ascot and have another go at the Gold Cup.

“There’s lots of options (for a run before then), including the Further Flight at Nottingham in a couple of weeks over a mile and six (furlongs) in soft ground. You’ve got to remember he’s only a maiden winner, so he wouldn’t carry a penalty in a race like that.”

Chindit set to bid for Champagne glory

/in /by

Chindit is on course to try to give trainer Richard Hannon a third victory in the bet365 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

The Marlbourgh handler took Saturday’s Group Two contest for two-year-olds over seven furlongs with Threat 12 months ago and Estidhkaar in 2014 – while his father won it three times.

Chindit is unbeaten in two starts, having taken a Listed contest at Ascot in July following a debut success over this seven furlongs earlier that month.

Karl Burke may give Spycatcher the chance to lose his maiden tag, after finishing second in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York last month.

Broxi, who was third that day for Keith Dalgleish, is also among the 16 entries.

Owen Burrow’s Albasheer, who romped home by six and a half lengths over the course and distance on debut in July, is an interesting contender – along with Roger Varian’s Newbury Listed victor Saint Lawrence.

There are eight possibles from Ireland – Joseph O’Brien’s Snapraeterea, State Of Rest, Thunder Moon and Vafortino, three trained by his father Aidan, Duke Of Mantua, St Mark’s Basilica and Wembley and John Joseph Murphy’s Charterhouse.

Limato could try to repeat his win five years ago in the bet365 Park Stakes.

Henry Candy’s stable stalwart lifted the Group Two heat over the straight seven furlongs as a three-year-old in 2015, on his only previous attempt.

The Tagula gelding has won a host of major races in his career, including two Group Ones. He took his Pattern-race tally to 12 when successful in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket in June.

One of Limato’s two triumphs at the top level was in the Prix de la Foret in 2016.

One Master, who has won the last two renewals of the Longchamp feature, is also among 15 entries for the Park Stakes.

Others include Breathtaking Look, Glorious Journey, Molatham and Marie’s Diamond.

Aidan O’Brien has three possibles – Lancaster House, Arizona and Wichita – while Joseph O’Brien’s Speak In Colours takes the Irish representation to four.