UK: Hannon starts making plans

Richard Hannon has already started making early-season plans for some of this year's Classic contenders after sending a strong team to work at Kempton last week.

Richard Hannon
Photo by Racing and Sports

The former champion trainer is particularly heavy-handed in the three-year-old colts division ahead of the new campaign, with Toronado, Havana Gold and Olympic Glory all set to take their chance in some of the trial races for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Another to go well in the recent workout was last year's Gran Criterium winner Law Enforcement, who is set for a trip to Dubai later this month.

Speaking about the Kempton gallop on www.richardhannonracing.co.uk, Hannon said: "Toronado worked particularly well with Havana Gold and Law Enforcement, and he has done really well through the winter. He has lengthened and filled out in all the right places and he has grown into a lovely horse.

"We are in the fortunate position of having a fistful of smart three-year-olds to go to war with, and my biggest problem is trying to keep them apart for the trials.

"I would think that Toronado will head to Newmarket for the Craven Stakes, Havana Gold could also go to HQ for the Free Handicap, while Olympic Glory, who has also thrived during the winter and moved beautifully when we worked him earlier in the week, would likely reappear in the Greenham at Newbury.

"Law Enforcement is already a Group One winner and he will be heading out to Dubai next week for the UAE Derby at Meydan on March 30."

Hannon is also considering where to start the season with last year's Racing Post Trophy runner-up Van Der Neer, while he reports his leading three-year-old fillies Sky Lantern and Maureen to be in good shape also.

"We have several classy fillies coming along nicely, and Sky Lantern, who has made enormous physical progress from two to three, could be one for the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury," he said.

"Maureen might have to go there too, though I'd rather they did not clash in a dress-rehearsal. She has plenty of speed, but she is not a tearaway and we think that she will stay the Guineas mile."


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