Trainer Richard Hannon is gearing up for his first Royal Ascot meeting as
head trainer after taking over from his father January 1, and the Everleigh and
Herridge conditioner Thursday issued positive updates on two of his big guns:
Toronado and Sky Lantern.
Toronado, second by a short head to Dawn Approach in the St. James’s Palace
12 months ago, turned the tables on that rival next out in the Sussex, but
failed to see out the added two furlongs of the Juddmonte International in
August. The Al Shaqab Racing colorbearer makes his first appearance since, and
will revert back to a mile for the June 17 Queen Anne.
“Toronado went to Newbury the other day and worked very well — he’s on
target for the Queen Anne,” Hannon told At The Races. “He’s always been a horse
that excites. Trainer, owner, jockey, gallop watcher, whatever you are, if he
doesn’t get your blood up then I’m pretty sure nothing else will.”
Sky Lantern won three Group 1s last year in addition to her Moyglare Stud
victory as a juvenile, and she could join Toronado in the Queen Anne, or take in
the June 18 Duke of Cambridge. Sky Lantern has not been seen since finishing
last of 14 in the Hong Kong Mile December 8.
“(Sky Lantern and Toronado) worked separately and she worked very well, I was
very pleased with her,” Hannon said. “She needs to be taken away as she gets
very fat — that was the reason we managed to get her beat in a trial last year.
She’s actually heavier than Toronado, would you believe, and he’s massive. She’d
need a couple more bits yet, but she’s in good form.”
Hannon noted that Al Shaqab’s three-time Group 1 winner Olympic Glory, beaten
in fourth by Cirrus des Aigles in the Prix d’Ispahan May 25, is unlikely to be
part of his Royal Ascot team.
“I would say Olympic Glory didn’t stay (the extended nine-furlong trip) in
France — if he’d stayed he should have been second,” the conditioner said. “I
don’t think the race came too quickly. He’s able to deal with that, as
physically he’s very strong and mentally he’s very strong as well. He’s run good
races round there, he’s won a Group 1 there, but he couldn’t have stayed.
“We’ve left him in the Queen Anne, but it’s more than likely that if Toronado
goes there he’ll go for the Jacques le Marois (at Deauville August 17).”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com