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Wolferton Throws Up Cup Hopeful

After some near-misses and some frustration, Paul Hanagan rode his first winner of the meeting.

Mahsoob winning the Wolferton Handicap (Listed)
Mahsoob winning the Wolferton Handicap (Listed) Picture: Racing and Sports

This was when his perfectly-timed run on 7/4 favourite Mahsoob landed the ten-furlong Wolferton Handicap by half a length from Sennockian Star, with Fire Fighting a head third.



"That was down to the tactics," he said. "I knew I wanted to be handy - he won from miles back at York but there is a big long straight there, but here there is a sharp run-in. I know he stays well and once he gets going he is really good. It all went to plan - the only thing was a horse on my outside set him alight a bit at one point, but he has a marvellous temperament and soon settled."

The Dansili four-year-old in now unbeaten in four runs as he has moved up the ladder and holds entries in some of the summer's top middle-distance Group One contests. "He gives the impression he'll stay further than today's trip," added Hanagan. "And he is so laid back and easy to ride. Most of the best horses I've ridden have had that wonderful temperament."

It was a second victory of the week for Sheikh Hamdan, also owner-breeder of the Commonwealth Cup winner Muhaarar, who was ridden by Dane O'Neill as Hanagan finished seventh on Adaay.

"It's been a great week for the team, but tough for me personally up to now," said Hanagan, now in his fourth year with Sheikh Hamdan. "I'd been hitting the crossbar - and there'd be something wrong with me if I didn't feel frustrated in picking the wrong one in the Commonwealth Cup.

"But I was delighted for Dane, don't get me wrong, he works as hard as all of us and deserved it. It's all a great team effort, which is one of the reasons I took the job, to be involved with such a good team."

Mark Johnston saddle both runner-up Sennockian Star and third-placed Fire Fighting behind impressive winner Mahsoob in the Wolferton Handicap.

"It's slightly frustrating not to win but I said beforehand that I was surprised that both horses horses were outsiders," said Johnston. "They just needed to run up to their form. Fire Fighting consistently does that and Sennockian Star won well last time so there was every hope they would do well.

"We've been beaten by a good winner, who is lightly-raced but things didn't go perfectly for either of mine. Both horses need a lead and Sennockian Star hit the front too soon and Fire Fighting had to come wide and was getting there all the time.

"We've had a load of people looking at Fire Fighting for Australia and we might look at planning a campaign based around going there. We could think about the Cox Plate in the run-up to the Melbourne Cup."


Racing and Sports

Ascot Saturday, 20th June 2015

1m2f TURF GOOD FIRM
GBP £70,000

Wolferton Handicap (Listed) (LR)

GBP £70,000
Age: 4yo and up Type: HCP
1m2f TURF GOOD FIRM
FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 4. MAHSOOB (GB) 4yo H
DANSILI (GB) - MOOAKADA (IRE)
PAUL HANAGAN
JOHN GOSDEN
$2.75
129lbs
MR HAMDAN AL MAKTOUM
2nd 15. SENNOCKIAN STAR (GB) 5yo G
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) - CHORIST (GB)
FRANNY NORTON
M JOHNSTON
$13
121lbs
MICHAEL ALLEN

Sales Information

3rd 1. FIRE FIGHTING (IRE) 4yo G
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (IRE) - SAVOIE (FR)
PAUL MULRENNAN
M JOHNSTON
$17
133lbs
MR A D SPENCE

Sales Information

4th 13. MOUNT LOGAN (IRE) 4yo G
NEW APPROACH (IRE) - VISTARIA (USA)
ANDREA ATZENI
LUCA CUMANI
$12
123lbs

Sales Information

5th 11. PROVENANCE (GB) 4yo M
GALILEO (IRE) - ECHELON (GB)
RYAN MOORE
SIR MICHAEL STOUTE
$11
125lbs
6th 2. FATTSOTA (GB) 7yo G
OASIS DREAM (GB) - GIFT OF THE NIGHT (USA)
RICHARD HUGHES
DAVID O'MEARA
$26
132lbs

Sales Information

7th 9. FIRST FLIGHT (IRE) 4yo G
INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) - FIRST OF MANY (GB)
JAMES DOYLE
SAEED BIN SUROOR
$6
125lbs

Sales Information

8th 3. NICEOFYOUTOTELLME (GB) 6yo G
HERNANDO (FR) - SWAIN'S GOLD (USA)
PAT DOBBS
R M BECKETT
$13
131lbs

Sales Information

9th 10. COLLABORATION (GB) 4yo G
HALLING (USA) - RED SHAREEF (GB)
DAVID PROBERT
ANDREW BALDING
$9
125lbs

Sales Information

10th 8. SUPER MOON (JPN) 6yo H
BRIAN'S TIME (USA) - FAIRY BALLADE (IRE)
CRISTIAN DEMURO
K FUJISAWA
$17
127lbs
11th 5. EDUCATE (GB) 6yo G
ECHO OF LIGHT (GB) - PASITHEA (IRE)
ADAM KIRBY
I MOHAMMED
$15
128lbs
12th 12. GROUNDBREAKING (GB) 5yo G
NEW APPROACH (IRE) - LADEENA (IRE)
WILLIAM BUICK
C APPLEBY
$26
123lbs

Sales Information

13th 16. DON'T STARE (GB) 5yo G
ZAMINDAR (USA) - JOSHUA'S PRINCESS (GB)
TOM QUEALLY
JAMES FANSHAWE
$34
121lbs

Sales Information

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