Richard Hannon

Group 2 winner Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who won the G2 July S. last month and was second to Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Phoenix S. on Aug. 6, will contest the Aug. 21 G1 Prix Morny in Deauville, trainer Richard Hannon revealed on Sunday. "He came back in good shape and all being well we'll head to the Prix Morny," said Hannon. "He ran a good race in Ireland. I didn't think there was a 2-year-old that could beat him seven lengths, but...

Boardsmill Stud's first-season sire Poet's Word (Ire) (by Poet's Voice {GB}) is off the mark after his daughter Zabbie (GB) took Thursday's William Hill Build Your Odds Racing League Nursery H. at Doncaster. Placed three times before a disappointing ninth in a Southwell maiden July 29, the Richard Hannon-trained 9-1 shot raced towards the fore of the main group uder Sean Levey before earning the lead with half a furlong remaining and beating X J Rascal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by a head.

GOODWOOD, UK--Goodwood has been especially glorious this week for Ed Sackville, wearing two slightly different hats as bloodstock advisor and agent. First, Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never) blazed a trail in the G3 Molecomb S. for the Keswick family's Rockcliffe Stud, in which Sackville has played an active role in helping to assemble a broodmare band. The filly's success was followed on Thursday by victory in the G2 Richmond S. for Dr Jim and Fitri Hay's Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who was bought by SackvilleDonald for 125,000gns at Book...

Rockcliffe Stud's 2-year-old filly Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never--Marsh Hawk {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was the lone distaffer in Wednesday's G3 Markel Molecomb S. at Goodwood and took full advantage of her gender allowance to deny Listed Dragon S. victor Rocket Rodney (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in the five-furlong dash. She had opened up with a June 17 debut second tackling six furlongs at the Sussex venue and was let go at a generous 7-1 coming back off a four-length tally, again over six, at Newbury earlier this month....

Earning compensation for respectable efforts in the top league, Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) battled to a typically game success in Saturday's G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot. Third in the May 14 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury and fourth in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 14, the 85-40 second favourite was in shallower waters here and took to the lead early to establish his presence. Looking likely to surrender as the 7-4 favourite Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) edged ahead...

Amo Racing's €225,000 Goffs Orby yearling Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Vida Amorosa {Ire}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) ran second to 'TDN Rising Star' Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. last month and, in the absence of late scratching Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), justified odds-on favouritism to claim a first stakes success in Thursday's G2 Close Brothers July S. at Newmarket. He had previously debuted with a win in a stellar renewal of Doncaster's Mar. 26 Brocklesby S. and doubled up in a...

Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), runner-up in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot, is an 'outstanding chance' to following in his sire's hoofsteps to win the G2 July S. on July 7, according to trainer Richard Hannon. Owned by Amo Racing, the colt won his first two starts at Doncaster and Newbury in March and May, respectively. "Persian Force worked super on Tuesday and the July S. has always been the plan since he finished second in the Coventry S. at Royal Ascot," said Hannon. "It comes at the...

Dual group winner Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is pointing to Royal Ascot, trainer Richard Hannon revealed on Tuesday. A start in the one-mile G1 St James's Palace S. or the six-furlong G1 Commonwealth Cup S. are both being considered for the Al Shaqab Racing colourbearer, as is the G3 Jersey S. Successful in both the G2 July S. and G2 Gimcrack S. last term, Lusail resumed with a second in the G3 Greenham S. in mid-April and was a close sixth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on...

Two-time Group 1 winner Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}-Coplow {GB}, by Manduro {Ger}) has died at the age of seven, according to published reports. The daughter of the placed Coplow is a half-sister to the listed winner Billesdon Bess (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}) and won the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in 2018. Bred by Stowell Hill Partners and raced by Jeanette McCreery, the Richard Hannon trainee won the G3 Prestige S. at two and shocked Newmarket with a 1 3/4-length win in the Guineas at 66-1. Kept in training...

After Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) in the meeting opener on Friday, the sharp and fast juvenile Miami Girl (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) followed suit in gaining a TDN Rising Star tag at Newmarket's Guineas festival on Sunday. A touch tardy from the gates in the five-furlong maiden but soon racing exuberantly on the heels of the leaders, the 5-1 shot was sent to the front approaching the furlong pole and opened up with relish to record a 5 1/2-length verdict over Beautiful Sunrise (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), with 3/4 of...

Fresh off running second in the Mar. 26 G1 Al Quoz Sprint over the Meydan turf in Dubai, Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire})'s connections are considering a start in the G2 Duke Of York S. on May 11 for the 4-year-old filly. The McMurray Family colourbearer won the G3 Hackwood S. last July and ran fourth in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4. She tired to 11th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on Oct. 16 and was third in the G3 1351 Turf...

The McMurray Family's Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who ran third in the 1400-metre G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh on Feb. 26, is pointing to the 1200-metre G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Mar. 26, according to trainer Richard Hannon. A winner of the G3 Hackwood S. last July, the bay filly ran fourth in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4 and tired to 11th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on Oct. 16. Hannon said, "Happy Romance ran a blinder in Riyadh. She...