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Richard Hannon targets maiden Mill Reef Stakes win at Newbury




Newbury Racecourse is to mark the passing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with a two minute silence before racing on Friday and Saturday, writes Max Carter Keall.

The Queen was a frequent visitor at Newbury, and was widely known for her love of the sport.

She would often be seen spending enjoyable days at the Berkshire course and her very first winner, Doutelle came at Newbury's John Porter Stakes in 1958, starting a run of 77 total wins across her time in Newbury.

The Queen at Newbury Racecourse in 2009
The Queen at Newbury Racecourse in 2009

Her other winners included Pall Mall at the Lockinge Stakes in the same year, Charlton at the Spring Maiden in 1970 and, the day after her 91st birthday, Call To Mind storming to victory on his debut.

Chairman of Newbury Racecourse, Dominic Burke, reflected on the Queen’s many visits to Newbury: “Throughout her life, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a loyal figurehead for British Horseracing and we are honoured to have so many memories of her here at the racecourse.

"I can express the deep gratitude of myself and all at Newbury for her unwavering support for, and appreciation of, British racing over many decades.

"Our heartfelt condolences to His Majesty The King and the Royal family”

The Queen reflects on the finest margin of victory at Newbury with her racing manager, Highclere's John Warren
The Queen reflects on the finest margin of victory at Newbury with her racing manager, Highclere's John Warren

A two minute silence will be held approximately 20 minutes prior to the first race on both Friday 16 and Saturday 17 to honour the Queen.

The national anthem will then be sung by Wantage-based trainer Heather Main on Saturday 17 September and jockeys will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.

Racegoers are also invited to leave tributes to Her Majesty in a designated area, and there will be a book of condolences for those who wish to sign it.

This weekend also brings about a shot at the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes for West Berkshire trainer Richard Hannon’s Shouldvebeenaring.

Richard Hannon. Pic: Richard Marsham
Richard Hannon. Pic: Richard Marsham

The horse’s owners, Middleham Park Racing, paid £5,000 to add their grey colt to the Group 2 race on its 50th anniversary.

Hannon’s father, Richard Snr, won the first edition of the 6f contest in 1972 with Mon Fils, who went on to capture the 2,000 Guineas the following year.

Shouldvebeenaring has won three out of his four races this year, including the Listed Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon and Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes at York last month.

In his other race at Goodwood the volt placed fourth but ran on strongly inside the final furlong.

Shouldvebeenaring has been supplemented," Hannon said.

"He won the Listed race at Ripon last time and the sales race at York before that and we think he is a very nice horse.

"My Dad trained the first winner of this race so it would be nice to do it this year.”

The son of Havana Grey features among ten five-day confirmations with Hannon's Persian Force, a Group 2 and course and distance winner who has finished second in his last two starts at Group 1 level.

“I don’t know yet whether Persian Force will run," Hannon admitted.

"His main objective is the Middle Park Stakes, but we left him in and we’ll see what it looks like.”

Hannon always has a potent team of juveniles and hopes to get his name on the Roll of Honour for the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Stakes for the first time on Friday when the race is run for the 42nd time under the wine merchants’ sponsorship.

Renowned for having been won in the past by Henbit, Shergar, Rainbow Quest, Unfuwain, King’s Theatre and Nayef, while the conditions race has also been used as stepping-stone to stardom for the likes of Shahrastani and Authorized.

Two years ago it was won by subsequent Breeders’ Cup winner Yibir, while last year’s winner Zechariah won the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on his most recent start.

Hannon has five horses engaged including Classic, a 260,000gns son of Dubawi, who got off the mark at Newmarket last time, and the once raced maiden Palamon.

“I am going to run Palamon, and Classic is in there and he is a horse we think a lot of so he might well go,” he said.

“It’s always a very nice race and we have two very nice entries there.”

Other West Berkshire trainers in the race are William Muir and Clive Cox who have Mustajaab and Heroism running respectively.

Mustajaab’s won at Welsh racecourse Ffos Las but placed fifth at the Interex Group British EBF Crocker Bulteel Maiden Stakes at Ascot.

Cox’s Heroism showed good form winning the Irish EBF Restricted Novice Stakes in Salisbury, but that has been his only race.

Saturday’s card will feature seven races including the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup and Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy.



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