Richard Hannon has high hopes of causing a second 2000 Guineas upset when the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum-owned Rosallion takes on last year’s outstanding two-year-old City Of Troy at Newmarket tomorrow.
Hannon, who will be double handed in the marquee mile event with Craven winner Haatem joining his stablemate, was in his first season with a licence when 40-1 chance Night Of Thunder inflicted the first and last defeat on top miler Kingman in the 2014 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. A decade on and a win for Rosallion would come as nothing like such a shock as he is already a Group 1 winner and fancied in the international markets.
However, the unbeaten City Of Troy looks an even more formidable rival than Kingman and has been a hot favourite to land the first Classic of the season for months.
Hannon, whose father Richard won this race three times, admits he didn’t fully appreciate the enormity of Night Of Thunder’s achievements at the time, but after seconds since with Barney Roy and King Of Change, plus some lesser efforts, he knows all too well how hard a race it is to win.
He said: “Night Of Thunder was my first runner in a Classic and his win was a bit unexpected after Kingman had beaten him comfortably in the Greenham. I’m not sure I appreciated what a big deal it was at the time, but I do now. When you’ve been there once you obviously have a thirst for it, and this is the best chance I’ve had of winning the race again.
“Mine don’t usually go to the Guineas without a run, but Rosallion has been to Kempton twice and he also went to Newbury the other day, when he had a nice breeze on the bridle. He’s had a coat on him all winter like Paco Boy used to have, almost looking like a snake, and he has the same attitude Canford Cliffs had, as he couldn’t care less.
LOVES FAST GROUND
“None of our star milers like those two, Night Of Thunder, Havana Gold, Olympic Glory and Toronado won a Group 1 as a two-year-old, but Rosallion did, and he came from last to first to beat a Breeders’ Cup winner and break the track record when he won his at Longchamp. He loves fast ground - it obviously wasn’t the good to soft going they were calling it that day - so after a good drying start to the week I’m hoping Newmarket continues to miss the rain.”
He added: “It’s a proper Guineas and whatever wins will be a champion. It’s not all about City Of Troy either, as there are others you could fancy too, but I couldn’t be happier with Rosallion. I know he’s the best horse in the yard, and we’ll find out on Saturday if he’s the best horse in the race.”
Hannon also warns that we shouldn't underestimate Haatem, who was so impressive in the Craven. He said: He doesn’t work anything like so well as Rosallion, but he’s different. He’s not a showy work horse, but he goes out and grinds them into the ground and that’s what impressed me in the Craven. He loved the mile there, and he’s a bit of a dark horse.”
