Hannon aiming to end Guineas hoodoo
Richard Hannon’s stable believe they have a good chance of breaking their 1000 Guineas hoodoo when Indian Ink and Selinka go for glory in the Stan James-sponsored Classic on Sunday.
The East Everleigh trainer has won the 2000 Guineas three times but the fillies’ equivalent has eluded him so far – a statistic the team hope to rectify this weekend.
Indian Ink, winner of last season’s Cheveley Park Stakes, has benefited from her reappearance in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury when she was runner-up to Majestic Roi.
“Indian Ink is absolutely winging. She’s flying at home and she’s a very good filly,” said the trainer’s son, Richard Hannon junior.
“I think she’s proved that she is crying out for a mile which is great and she will have come on for the race last time.
“She goes on any ground so I think she’ll be fine on this.
“I think she represents excellent value at 12-1 and I’ve had a little bit myself. I think she’ll be hard to beat as she is a Group One winner.”
Hannon junior has noticed an improvement in Selinka, a Listed winner over Newmarket’s seven furlongs in September, as the race has approached.
“Selinka has taken her time to come to hand but the last week or so she has really come to herself and she’s going to need all of the mile,” he went on.
“The faster they go the better for her and she’s won at the course before.”
Kevin Prendergast was pleased to hear that Miss Beatrix, winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Goffs Million, had been drawn low in stall seven.
“That’s a good draw and I see she has Jim Bolger’s filly (Finsceal Beo) in the next stall,” said the County Kildare trainer.
“Miss Beatrix is in good shape and with luck in running we hope she runs a big race.”
Jim Bolger will be hoping Finsceal Beo can provide him with some consolation after his star colt Teofilo was ruled out of Saturday’s 2000 Guineas through injury.
Finsceal Beo was the top juvenile filly with victories in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Rockfel Stakes last autumn.
She is hot favourite at 11-8 with the sponsors for Classic glory following the final declaration stage and will run from stall eight.
“We only decided to run in the Rockfel to make sure she was champion two-year-old, and I was reasonably confident that she would carry the 4lb penalty,” he said.
“I will look at any Guineas in Europe for her and then probably go on to the Coronation, but I did make an entry for her in the Pretty Polly too.”
Mick Channon is hoping the going will not too firm for Treat, who was runner-up to Simply Perfect in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot on good to soft ground last September.
“She has been working really well at home but she wouldn’t want the ground too hard,” said the West Ilsley trainer.
Magic America was a notable absentee from the final declarations after suffering a leg injury in a routine spin.
“She’s fractured her front fetlock cantering this morning,” said trainer Criquette Head-Maarek.
“It wasn’t even serious work but that’s racing – you always have to be prepared for such things.
“She’s going to be OK and will not have to be put down but just cannot run.
“She was so well. It’s been a long time since I had one as good as her for a big race in England.”
Magic America was 12-1 with the sponsors having made a successful seasonal debut in a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte last month.
Head-Maarek had been hoping to win the 1000 Guineas for a fourth time after Ma Biche (1983), Ravinella (1988) and Hatoof (1992).
The only other withdrawal was the Paul Blockley-trained Wait Watcher, leaving a field of 23.
