3 minute read
Richard Hannon, champion trainer in 2014 in his first season, hopes to land the Group One Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes for the second year running on Saturday, May 16.
He captured the mile Newbury race, which has prize money boosted by almost 75% this year to £350,000, with Olympic Glory in 2014 and is aiming Night Of Thunder, Toormore and Shifting Power at this year's renewal.
At a media morning organised by Newbury Racecourse at his Herridge yard in Wiltshire, Hannon worked all three horses.
He said today: "They are three good ones. I am very pleased with them - they have all done well since last year.
"Night Of Thunder and Toormore are definites for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes and Shifting Power has a 75% to 80% chance of running in it as well."
Exciting international entries are headlined by America's 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (Art Sherman). The four-year-old won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes impressively last year, though he failed in his bid for the US Triple Crown when going down by two lengths to Tonalist in the Belmont Stakes over a mile and a half.
California Chrome subsequently finished third in the 10-furlong Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita and made his first start of 2015 when runner-up to Prince Bishop in the Dubai World Cup, also over 10 furlongs on dirt, at Meydan on March 28.
He won on his only appearance on turf, capturing the Grade One Hollywood Derby over nine furlongs at Del Mar in November and is set to make his European debut in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes if all goes to plan.
The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is the likely starting point for last year's Breeders' Cup Mile hero Karakontie (Jonathan Pease), who is owned by the Niarchos Family. The four-year-old, who also enjoyed Classic success in the French 2,000 Guineas, is one of five French-trained contenders for the Newbury race.
The French-trained contenders for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes are completed by Group One winner Ectot (Elie Lellouche), last season's French 2,000 Guineas runner-up Prestige Vendome (Nicholas Clement) and high-class filly Bawina (Carlos Laffon-Parias).
Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien gained victory in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes with the impressive Hawk Wing in 2003 and has entered last season's Diamond Jubilee Stakes runner-up Due Diligence.
Other high-profile entries include Integral (Sir Michael Stoute) and Rizeena (Clive Brittain), who are both dual Grade One winners.
Britain's champion trainer Richard Hannon sent out Olympic Glory to claim the spoils last year in his first season with a training licence and is likely to run last year's QIPCO 2000 Guineas victor Night Of Thunder and Toormore, who was Europe's champion two-year-old in 2013, while he has also entered Shifting Power.