Describing Rosallion’s win in the 2024 St James’s Palace Stakes as the best moment in his racing career, a bullish Hannon is hoping his stable star can improve from his seasonal debut where he finished third in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Rosallion is the current 3-1 favorite in ante post betting across the pond for the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), the lid lifter of the Royal Ascot meeting that gets underway on JUne 17.
“I was disappointed that he didn’t win,” said Hannon. “Although looking back there were a lot of positives. It was a mirror image of last year when he ran in the Guineas, he just got a bit tired. He obviously needs his first run of the season.
“It was as good as a Group One you’ll get and if you are not 100%, you’ll get found out. Match fitness is something you can only replicate with races, and he was off for over 300 days which is a seriously long time.
“Although at home we were very happy with his work and he’d done plenty, he had a good blow after it, and you realised that it was the match fitness that he lacked. At Royal Ascot he’ll have the chance to reverse the form if he can. He’ll go there in the best nick we can get him and hopefully that will be enough.”
Watch and wager on Royal Ascot at Iron Bets! New players can earn up to a $300 deposit bonus! At Iron Bets look for Daily Promotions throughout the week! Iron Bets players also will receive great rewards, free past performances and more!
Bet on Royal Ascot at Iron Bets!
Away from the group action, winner of last season’s group 3 Jersey Stakes, Haatem, and 2023 Buckingham Palace Stakes winner Witch Hunter, headline a talented variety of horses who will tackle the listed and handicap races.
Haatem Lacking Zip
“James [Doyle] said Haatem doesn’t really have the zip that he had last year,” said Hannon. “We are going to try and elongate his trip and go to a mile and a quarter, but he is a very heavy horse, and he might just need two runs to get him fit.
“He didn’t run a bad race in France, but I was disappointed. We are going to go for a listed race at Royal Ascot and hopefully he can get back on track there. A winner at Royal Ascot can be as good as a Group One, it means just as much. For owners and everyone associated, all roads lead to Royal Ascot.
“Witch Hunter always runs well at Royal Ascot, he won the Buckingham Palace two years ago, and the Hungerford at Newbury. He ran a very good race in the Victoria Cup a couple weeks ago, but I don’t know where I’m going to go with him yet. He’ll have an entry in the Royal Hunt Cup and the Buckingham again. I have a feeling seven might be his trip, but a strong mile would suit, and he can go in pretty much in anything.”
Look for Aramram in Wokingham Stakes
After success in a valuable handicap in May, Aramram appears to hold a strong chance in the Wokingham Stakes.
A progressive son of Blue Point, he started this season with four consecutive seconds, seeing his mark rise from 89 to 94 as a result. He went one better on his latest start, producing a career best effort in a Class 2 contest at Newbury last month.
“Aramram deserved that win the other day, after four seconds,” stated Hannon. Ryan Moore got off him and said he’s a Group horse and he’s phoned up to ride him in the Wokingham! I’d say he’d have a very good chance. He’s in very good form and has run well all year. The trouble is when they keep performing well, the bad run has to come, and you just don’t know when that will be. If he’s a Group horse, he’s still well-handicapped. “
Persica and Dark Thirty will return to Ascot after competing in last year’s King George V Stakes and Buckingham Palace Stakes respectively and Hannon is confident, they have the ability to land a valuable prize, despite mid-pack finishes 12 months ago.
Hannon continued: “Persica is going to go for the Wolferton Stakes, a listed race over a mile and a quarter. He’ll have a very good chance. it would be even better if there was a bit of give in the ground, but he’s a very good horse over this trip and over a mile.
“When he gets the run of the race and behaves himself, Dark Thirty is capable of winning anything. Sometimes, as soon the gates open, he blows his chance big time, straight away you know what your fate is. It’s tricky to weigh up, he can miss it by miles and its game over, but if he breaks on terms, he can beat anything. He’ll probably go the Wokingham as well.”
Hannon Saddles Talented Juveniles
A powerful charge of two-year-olds will bid to emulate the likes of Baitha Alga and Illuminate in winning at Royal Ascot as a juvenile.
Harry’s Girl and First Legion both finished second in Listed contests and head to the Royal Meeting with live chances of historic victories.
Hannon said: “That race she finished second in, the Marygate, is always the best indicator for Royal Ascot. I thought she had won but she just got nailed on the line. She is a very sharp filly and will run very well in the Queen Mary. Her Derby will be the Super Sprint at Newbury in July, she’s very good.
“First Legion will go for the Norfolk. He is a very talented colt, so it is nice to go there with talented horses. You only really start thinking about targets when they’ve won. It’s not at the forefront of your mind, but you do start thinking where they might end up. Normally the owners have a good idea so we discuss with them.”
So, Hannon will set his sights on adding to his haul of 10 Royal Ascot winners and while his best chance looks like being Rosallion in the very first race he will have plenty of ammunition throughout the week to watch out for.
