By Sam Turner
Richard Hannon has issued an ominous warning to Rosallion’s Sussex Stakes rivals, insisting his star colt is “getting better as the year goes on”.
The Irish 2,000 Guineas winner followed up in style in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and has understandably earned top billing for next Wednesday’s G1 feature at Goodwood.
The son of Blue Point incurred his only reversal this season came when runner-up in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket to Notable Speech who looks set to spearhead the challengers next week, along with St James’s Palace Stakes runner-up Henry Longfellow.
But Hannon believes that defeat resulted from a lack of match fitness, a component which has been remedied as the campaign has progressed.
“Rosallion has progressed through the year”, said the Classic-winning trainer.
“He probably did need match fitness and the only way you get that is with matches and that is probably what happened at Newmarket [finished second].
“He progressed to the Irish 2,000 Guineas and probably his best performance to date was at Royal Ascot.
“Physically he has continued to do well. Someone asked me earlier if I think he has peaked, but I think he is peaking. He is getting better as the year goes on.
“We’re looking forward to the Sussex Stakes. The track is a bit of an unknown, but technically he is taking on horses he has beaten before so we’re hopeful he can go there and run his race.”
“IT’S A BIG BUZZ FOR EVERYBODY IN THE YARD”
“He is a very good moving horse, he is very athletic. As long as he settles, he has been settling a lot better in his races recently.
“The way he cuts them down late, we have been sailing close to the wind. He did well to get out at Royal Ascot. He was travelling great that day and picked up on a horse [Henry Longfellow] who got first run.
“We’ll want to ride him a little closer, but that’s up to Sean [Levey, jockey]. We’ve done our job when he gets there fit and well and he’ll do his.
“I always thought it would suit him round a bend and it did at Ascot. Coming off a bend at Goodwood I think will suit him too.
“It’s a big buzz for everybody in the yard to have a horse like Rosallion. When you haven’t had a horse like him for a few years, you don’t want to let that moment pass us by. It’s nice to be part of a big meetings and big races.
“A lot of people I don’t know come up to me and ask ‘How's Rosallion?’. It says a lot about racing and that the wider public are taking an interest in the sport.
“He has always been a little bit different and you’re drawn to those every morning. He is flashy at home, but never ridiculous. He’s always moved very well and he’s never caused us a moment’s worry to be honest.
“I don’t there is much rain due, but I think he showed at Goodwood that he didn’t like soft ground as he was wheel-spinning that day.”
Hannon also revealed that Rosallion could stay in training as a four-year-old after discussions with owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.
“I’D LIKE TO THINK HE WOULD CONTINUE TO IMPROVE”
Asked about a four-year-old campaign, Hannon continued: “That is a decision for Sheikh Obaid. I very much hope he does.
“Horses like him are hopefully not once in a lifetime, but they are pretty special for everybody. You’d have an awful lot to look forward to next year.
“People get attached to horses and it does bring people to the races to see him. The way he has won his races, people find exciting.
“You see him physically and he is getting bigger and stronger as the races go by. I’d like to think he would continue to improve next year.”
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