Hannon luck turns for the better

Marlborough trainer Richard Hannon enjoyed a welcome change of luck on Town Moor when he saddled Nasheej to win the Murphy’s Fastflow May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday.

After the filly had beaten High Heel Sneekers by a length in the Group Two contest, Hannon said: “I’ve had the most dreadful time with my runners here. I was beginning to think the best thing to do with my horses was to put them all back in the horsebox and take them home.”

Nasheej earned a general 25-1 quote for the 1000 Guineas with the victory and the handler continued: “I suppose we’ll look at the Fillies’ Mile but failing that nothing more really – she’s done enough.

“We’ll have to think about entering her for the Guineas but I think her ideal trip will be a mile and a quarter. She looked tapped for a bit of foot there really.”

Iffraaj, who had his unbeaten 2005 winning sequence broken in the July Cup, was back on song when he just prevailed in a thrilling finish to the GNER Park Stakes.

The seven-furlong test was run in driving rain but the spirits of favourite backers were raised when Sleeping Indian headed Iffraaj at the furlong pole.

However, in a desperate run to the line, the Michael Jarvis-trained four-year-old (7-1) rallied under Philip Robinson’s driving to get back up in the last stride and score by the shortest of short heads.

Iffraaj won his first three races this term but found things too hot in the Group One July Cup and finished 14th of 17 behind Pastoral Pursuits.

Jarvis, who has always rated the son of Zafonic highly, said: “I must admit, I thought he was second, and when I saw the replay I still thought we were beaten.

“But he is a very tough horse and I would like to run him in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Champion Stakes Day next month, that looks an ideal race for him.”

Sleeping Indian’s trainer John Gosden said: “He ran a great race. The stop-start pace was not what he wanted and he just got caught on the line, that’s racing.

“We’ll look at the Prix Rond-Point at Longchamp on Arc weekend. It is a mile Group Two but he will get the trip – he has probably run nearly his best race here.”

Majestic Missile gained just reward for some sound efforts with a brilliant success under Jamie Spencer in the Earth Mortgages Scarbrough Stakes.

The four-year-old will not be resting on his laurels and his trainer William Haggas said: “Fast ground, five furlongs and a fast gallop and he’s smart.

“He’s going to run next Saturday at Newbury in a Group Three with no penalty and then hopefully the Abbaye and Hong Kong.”

Favourable Terms staged a winning return to action in the Japan Racing Association Kyoto Sceptre Stakes after a 13-month lay-off.

Her trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: “She’s been off since the Nassau and Sheikh Maktoum (owner) very kindly let her stay in training at five.

“She had a problem in the spring with her tibia so it’s good to see her bounce back like that after such a long time off.

“She has been working very well recently and we were very hopeful that she would run well here.

“She’s in the Sun Chariot and that’s a possibility for her.”

Richard Fahey’s decision to run Anna Pavlova in the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons Ladies Day Stakes rather than the May Hill paid off when the filly recorded a comfortable win.

“I actually contemplated running her in the May Hill but I’m a big believer in letting them earn a shot at that sort of company and she’s earned a shot at something now,” Fahey said after greeting his 68th winner of the season.

“She’s improving and she’s quite a good filly.

“It was a farce of a race. They sprinted and left her a bit and it was just her class that got her through.

“I wanted to see what happened today but there is a Listed fillies’ race for her somewhere.”

The victory was a timely birthday present for Hanagan, 25, but he was also banned for one day (September 19) for careless riding on the winner.

Lord Of The East had to be walked to the start of the Ralph Raper Memorial Prince Of Wales Cup but came back a lot quicker when the gelding registered an all-the-way success in the hands of apprentice Pat Mathers.