Owners switching focus from speed as Richard Hannon targets landmark Group 1 wins
Richard Hannon is embarking on the fifth season with his name on the license and is aiming to move into double figures with regards to Group 1 victories in his relatively short training career so far.
RICHARD HANNON has given an early season guide to his stable in what will be his fifth campaign as a trainer is his own right.
Hannon took over the reigns at Herridge from his father, Richard Hannon snr, and whilst the name on the license may be different, the operation remains the same.
Reaching double-figures for Group 1 winners remains the main goal for the Hannon yard in 2018.
He said: “I’m enjoying it. My dad is still here and we’re doing it together every day just like we always did. I think we’ve had almost 800 winners or more now but it would be nice to get a 10th Group 1. It’s the same system as it always has been and it’s not complicated. We get the horses fit, run them and keep them and the staff happy and that’s the way we roll.”
Barney Roy hit the top over middle distances last season and Hannon feels there has been a shift in the focus of owners from the fast sprinters his yard were previously famed for.
“I think it’s something that has happened more over the course of time rather than been an agenda. They are the kinds of horses that people want nowadays. They want the 7 furlongs and upwards horses.
“After Royal Ascot the season almost finishes for 5 furlong horses, so it means they have a short season and short window of opportunity which is why the horses that get a mile and further are making a lot of money, they’re the horses people want.
“I don’t mind what trip they run over. If they’re a Group 1 horse I don’t care if they run over three miles or five furlongs!
As the 2018 season steps up a few gears, Hannon has provided an early season update on some of the more interesting horses in his yard.
Orange Suit:
“We’ve got Orange Suit who I think might start off in the Feilden or there’s a conditions race at Newmarket, he’s a very nice horse who won first time out at Newbury."
Dragon Moon:
"We’ve also got Dragon Moon who is a horse I like a lot. We took him to Kempton, he’s unraced and might run in the Wood Ditton."
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Qaysar:
"We’ve also got things like Qaysar which won the other day - I’m not sure where we’re going to go with him yet but we’ll hopefully find something - he came in rated 90 so handicaps could be on the agenda for him.”
Tigre Du Terre:
“Tigre Du Terre might have bumped into a very good horse the other day at Kempton but we love him. He’s quite a special horse and I know he got beaten the other day but that wouldn’t worry me at all. I think he’s a very good horse.”
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Hannon tasted Group success with some young fillies last season and will be hoping to see many of them kick on again this season, including one this weekend: “We’ve got some nice fillies as well, we’ve got Anna Nerium who won a Group 3, Billesdon Brook who won a Group 3, Taajanus, and Model runs on Saturday. We’ll have to sort them out as to where they go! I’d love to get them on the grass before the Guineas Trial meetings kick off but looking out the window, I don’t think that’s possible.”
Hannon does well with his two-year-olds and picked out a few of his latest crop to keep an eye on.
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“I like the horse called Dixieland that is going to run this Saturday at Kempton. I like him a lot, he’s been to Kempton and worked around there and was quite impressive for me. I think he’ll go close.
“We’ve got a chestnut filly called Ginger Nut by Sir Prancealot which I’ve actually got a share in myself. She goes well but I’m not sure where she is going to go yet. Then I’ve got a colt by Clodovil called Swiper and one nice horse by Dandy Man owned by King Power named Hua Hin. He’ll be out quite early and could be quite a nice two-year-old.”