Richard Hannon indecisive about Harbour Watch for the Middle Park Stakes or the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes
Richard Hannon is still uncertain about which race to take Harbour Watch to contend in. The horse needs training for the first Classic of the 2012 Flat season so the Dewhurst Stakes on Future Champions Day at Newmarket on 8th October might drain
the colt out and also put his energies to test.
However, Richard’s inclination upon the Middle Park have been noted quite widely. To him this would be the wise option and would leave the horse still compatible.
He claims that just one more race would suffice for the year as Harbour Watch already has decent experience against his name.
The need for running two races in a day, one at the Middle Park Stakes and then another one at the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes would not be pressuring as Richard is adamant on taking the shorter trip and also the prospect of Top Offer, contesting at the Dewhurst
Stakes is not very welcoming to him.
"I was very impressed with Top Offer when I saw him win at Newbury, so if I have my way it will be the Middle Park. We are confident that Harbour Watch will stay the Guineas mile, but we can always start stepping up in trip in the Greenham next year", said
Richard.
Both the races are grade one races so it is not that Harbour Watch would miss any important title as an opportunity cost.
The one at the Middle Park is 6 furlong's long and the Dewhurst Stakes is 7 furlongs, being another reason for choosing the Middle Park due to Harbour Watch's maiden stakes’ win.
The colt is already pretty famous since he is unbeatable to date and also majorly because of his easy win in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood Park.
Harbour Watch has already rode and won with Richard Hughes at the same distance before.
"The horse has definitely come on again since Goodwood, but he has the experience under his belt and one more run this year would suffice", Hannon told on his personal website.
Hughes entered Harbour Watch in the final two furlongs skilfully but in the final furlong the colt broke through the lot and spurted past opponents, winning by a lead of 100 yards.
Harbour Watch won over Bannock in this race on 29th July, 2011, in a field of ten horses.
Thus, Hannon has again manoeuvred comfortable ‘grounds’ for Harbour Watch, choosing the shorter distance to enhance his colt’s chances of winning over the favoured distance.
Richard Hannon has actually put in loads of thorough proactive efforts to get the horse going for the upcoming 2012 Flat season. As mentioned earlier about the partnership of the horse and his jockey which led to the eventual victory, the same chemistry
would be sought out for the 2012 event.
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