Richard Hannon’s Libranno takes July Stakes
Richard Hannon already has the market leaders for both next year’s 1000 and 2000 Guineas. But with nearly 250 horses, and the majority of them two-year-olds, there is plenty more ammunition left to fire.
Libranno hit the target in some style when he won the Group Two TNT July Stakes. The race had attacted a smart field including Approve, the winner of the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Elzaam, who was a close second to Hannon’s Guineas hope Strong Suit in the Coventry Stakes at the same meeting.
Godolphin had two runners of whom Neebras – who had changed hands privately for a hefty sum – was the choice of Frankie Dettori. But none of them could live with Libranno, who cost just 26,000gns as a yearling.
He was in front from the start for Ryan Moore, who was deputising for the suspended Richard Hughes, and had everything else under the pump from just under halfway as he pulled three-quarters of a length clear of Neebras. Elzaam was a disappointing third with Approve back in fourth.
Libranno won on his debut at Newmarket at the end of May and Hannon said: “I sent him half-cocked to Newmarket last time and he won. If they win for me first time, they usually have a bit more in the tank,” Hannon said.
“Oliver [McDowell, the owner and breeder] wanted to come here as this is his local track. My idea was to go to Ascot on Friday. What do I know?
“He’s a bit free at home and today he left the gate a bit quick and Ryan left him where he was. I said in the paddock beforehand, ‘If he leaves the gate good, don’t try and organise him and they’ll all be looking for him. Let him roll.’ You’ve got to give him some respect now."
Hannon’s juvenile antics continued when Moore rode Casual Glimpse to an impressive two-and-a-half-length win in the European Breeders' Fund Conditions Stakes.
Casual Glimpse, who won on his debut at Goodwood in May, had then from a disappointed when fifth in the Listed Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Derby day but now connections were talking about Group One targets later in the season. Richard Hannon Jnr, assistant trainer to his father, said: “Ryan was very impressed, he was complimentary and said he won well.
“The horse deserves a crack at a good one. I don’t think he’s in the Gimcrack at York but it is Sir Robert’s local track and we could supplement him. There’s the Prix Morny and the Phoenix Stakes as well, so we will look at something smart for him. He’s class. He hated Epsom last time, he never got into the race and didn’t travel at all.”
The law of diminishing returns worked for Barry Hills when Critical Moment won the Portland Place Properties Conditions Stakes over a mile. “We’ve tried him over a mile-and-a-half, and we’ve tried him over a mile-and-a-quarter and it looks like he wants a mile. He’s done it nicely.” Hills said.
“He a good honest, tough horse. I don’t know where we’ll go next. He’s in that Goodwood mile [the totesport Mile], but I think we’ll wait and see.”
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