‘Good luck, Aidan!’ – Richard Hannon’s team confident Rosallion can smash hot fav City Of Troy in 2000 Guineas
RICHARD HANNON has achieved plenty during his first 10 years as a trainer.
But he admits victory for his Rosallion in the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas would top them all.
Now in his 11th season at the helm of the family’s historic operation in Wiltshire the father of two has his sights firmly set on securing more Classic glory with his latest stable star.
The presence of top class milers at Everleigh and Herridge Stables has been a theme long before Hannon took over the family business, with his old man, Richard Hannon Senior, overseeing the careers of the likes Canford Cliffs, Paco Boy and Tirol to name but a few.
And having celebrated 2,000 Guineas success in his first year as a trainer with Night Of Thunder back in 2014, Hannon is keen to sample more glory in the opening Classic of the season 10 years on from that landmark occasion.
Hannon, 48, said: “I didn’t appreciate having a 2,000 Guineas winner in my first year as a trainer, but if I happen to win this one it will probably be the best moment I’ve had in racing as we all know how hard Classics are to win.
“It is very important for your shop window and, if you win it, the spoils of Classic success are limitless in terms of your business. It makes the rest of the year easier.
“I couldn’t be happier with Rosallion. He has put on 25 kilograms over the winter and done everything you would want in his work.
“He has had two away days at Kempton, and worked super at Newbury the other week. For me there is absoluely no doubt he will stay the mile.”
While pleased with Rosallion, it has not been all sunshine and roses for the son of Blue Point, who after adding to his debut win at Newbury in a Listed race at Ascot, then suffered defeat in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster — a day which still haunts Hannon.
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Hannon said: “I fancied him big time first time out at Newbury but, for me, it wasn’t the fireworks I was hoping to see.
“However, when he went to Ascot the next time and won the Listed race even I was gobsmacked with the way he won.
“I then couldn’t believe he got beat at Doncaster. I still don’t think soft ground was the reason, but there was some reason why he ran 20lb the time he did before.
“A bullet was going through my head as I left thinking ‘that is my best two year old and he has got well beaten’. Even now, I still can’t believe it happened.”
Victory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October confirmed Rosallion as a leading Guineas contender, but Hannon admits had it not been for his owner Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum things could have looked very different.
He added: “I rang Sheikh Obaid after he was beaten at Doncaster and he was an absolute gentleman.
“I would have loved to have run him in the Lagardere, but I wouldn’t have had the balls to go through with it, for fear of him doing the same again.
“Sheikh Obaid wanted to run him in France so we went for it.
“Other than for him we wouldn’t be where we are today.
“We would probably be flying under the radar, however he won impressively and all of a sudden we got our Guineas horse back. It made the winter a lot shorter.”
For Rosallion to succeed it will require him to become the first horse to lower the colours of the Aidan O’Brien-trained odds-on favourite City Of Troy, already dubbed the next Frankel.
And having had to play a supporting role to O’Brien-trained runners in the past with Barney Roy, who finished second behind Churchill in 2017, and King Of Change, who filled the same spot behind Magna Grecia in 2019, Hannon is aware of the task in hand.
He added: “Aidan is always the roadblock, but change has to come at some time, and I’m hoping it is now. Their horse is an extremely good horse, maybe a great one.
“He is a very worthy favourite, and never looked like getting beat last year. However, I’m certain Rosallion is a good horse, and he is a champion in my eyes, and those of the people who work here.”
Playing an integral part in helping Rosallion reach the heights he has so far climbed is the work put in behind the scenes by now retired Grand National winning rider Timmy Murphy.
The 49 year old said: “I’ve ridden a few good ones in my time, but he would be the best Flat horse that I have ridden. It is fabulous to be involved with a horse like him.
“He is moving better than he did as a two-year-old.
“At home his work has improved, but we have now just got to see him do it on the race track.”
Senior head lad Tony Gorman, 64, has seen plenty during his time based with the Hannon team since joining their operation back in 1990, but he is clear as to the regard he holds Rosallion in.
Gorman said: “I said from the start he is the nearest horse I’ve seen up here since Canford Cliffs as he was the best horse I’ve seen.
“Rosallion has the three bits you can’t measure . . . the brain, the heart and the engine. He has got a fantastic constitution and all I can say is good luck Aidan!”
Excitement is building, but Hannon will have a second dart to fire at the race in the shape of impressive Craven winner Haatem, who he feels could easily out run his odds.
He added: “His owner, Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, was there every day at the Craven Meeting, apart from the day he won, as he was meeting delegates in the embassy for Kuwait.
“He sent me a voice message of them all cheering and it sounded like they had already celebrated winning the Guineas!
“If you win the Craven like he did you should be there, or thereabouts in the Guineas, and I think this lad is slightly under valued.”
There will be no holding back on the celebrations should Classic success come Hannon’s way but, before the drinks flow, he will have one very important call to make.
Hannon said: “I promised my children they would be the first two people I would ring if we won.
“I’ve promised my lad Jack new games for his Xbox, however Eliza, just doesn’t want me to be disappointed, which is really sweet.
“It is 10 years since we won the 2,000 Guineas and six years since we won the 1,000 Guineas, so there would be a fair celebration.
“I would think both The Barleycorn Inn in Collingsbourne Kingston and The Shears Inn in Collingbourne Ducis would both get their fair share of prize-money behind the bar!”
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