Goldikova, undeniably the outstanding champion of recent times, is named Horse Of The Year at the 2010 Cartier Racing Awards, and the exceptional racemare also receives the Cartier Older Horse Award for the second year running.
The brilliant five-year-old enjoyed a stellar season as she won five Group/Grade One races, including a sensational and unprecedented third TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, USA, on November 6, for trainer Freddy Head, jockey Oliver Peslier and her sporting owner/breeders, Alain & Gerard Wertheimer
Goldikova stays in training next year and could add to her record-breaking total of 12 Group/Grade One triumphs by a European-based horse. Her European victories this season came in the Prix d’Ispahan, Queen Anne Stakes, Prix Rothschild and Prix de la Foret, while her only defeat was a runner-up finish on very soft ground behind the talented Classic-winning three-year-old colt Makfi.
Famous for an electric burst of speed that none of her rivals possess, Goldikova is the darling of European racing and is the first horse to receive the Cartier Older Horse Award more than once.
In the outstanding Cartier Horse Of The Year category, Goldikova dominated over Investec Derby and Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Workforce, triple Group One-winning miler Canford Cliffs, sensational King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Betfair) victor Harbinger ,who had to retire after that race following an injury, and Twice Over, successful in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes and Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.
Goldikova took the spoils in the Cartier Older Horse category from Harbinger, Twice Over, this season’s triple Group One winner Midday and Juddmonte International Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle.
Workforce receives the Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Colt Award in a tight photo-finish from Canford Cliffs, who was successful in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes, with the other nominations being the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and impressive Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes victor Cape Blanco, Goldikova’s Prix Jacques Le Marois conqueror and StanJames.com 2,000 Guineas hero Makfi, and Prix Jean Prat winner Dick Turpin.
Snow Fairy, who gained two Classics and won a Japanese Group One impressively on Sunday, takes the Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Award from Prix de Diane heroine Sarafina, StanJames.com 1,000 Guineas and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner Special Duty, Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes scorer Music Show and Lillie Langtry, successful in the Coronation Stakes and Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes.
Frankel maintained his unbeaten status with a brilliant victory in a hot renewal of the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and clearly gains the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Award from Shadwell Middle Park Stakes and Darley Prix Morny winner Dream Ahead, Racing Post Trophy victor Casamento, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Wootton Bassett and boylesports.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes hero Pathfork.
Dual Group One winner Misty For Me saw off strong rivalry to clinch the Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Award from Adnams Cheveley Park Stakes winner Hooray, Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile heroine White Moonstone, Keeneland Debutante Stakes winner Laughing Lashes and Memory, successful in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes.
Starspangledbanner landed from Australia in the spring and mopped up England’s high summer sprints and gains the Cartier Champion Sprinter Award. Speedy competition came from King’s Stand Stakes winner Equiano, Markab, who took the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, shock Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes scorer Sole Power and the fast filly Lady Of The Desert.
Rite Of Passage made just one appearance on the Flat this year but impressed enough when winning the Ascot Gold Cup to pip Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Americain and dual Group One hero Gentoo in the Cartier Champion Stayer Award, followed by The Irish Field St Leger victor Sans Frontieres and classy French stayer Celtic Celeb.
Richard Hannon, the outstanding trainer who clinched a second British trainers’ title at the end of a remarkable 2010 season, has been voted this year’s Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit winner. The award is for the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 18-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.
The list of past winners of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit is as follows: John Oxx, Sheikh Mohmmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Niarchos Family, Peter Willett, Henry Cecil, David & Patricia Thompson, Lord Oaksey, Prince Khalid Abdulla, John Magnier, His Highness the Aga Khan, Peter Walwyn, the Head Family, Sir Peter O’Sullevan, Frankie Dettori, John Dunlop, the Marquess of Hartington, Francois Boutin, Lester Piggott and Henri Chalhoub.
The highly-coveted horse awards were determined by points earned in Pattern races during 2010, combined with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists headed by Brough Scott, plus votes from readers of the Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph, a system that over the years has accurately rewarded supreme excellence.
The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to recognise the achievements of racehorses in Europe.
Cartier Horse Of The Year & Cartier Champion Older Horse
GOLDIKOVA (IRE)
5 b m Anabaa (USA) – Born Gold (USA) (Blushing Groom (FR))
2010 form: 111211
Owner: Wertheimer et Frere
Trainer: Freddy Head FR
Breeder: Wertheimer et Frere
Goldikova long since assured her place among horseracing’s greats in a stellar career that has yielded a European record of 12 Group/Grade One successes. Included among those wins are three scintillating victories in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (2008, 2009 & 2010). Goldikova takes the Cartier Older Horse Award for the second successive year and is also the recipient of the coveted Cartier Horse Of The Year Award.
Bred and raced by the Wertheimer Family, Goldikova joined trainer Freddy Head as a yearling and raced twice at two, winning both starts over a mile at Chantilly in September and October, 2007.
She met with defeat in each of her first three starts as a three-year-old, two of those coming behind the Aga Khan’s Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of that year, Zarkava, when runner-up in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and third in the Prix de Diane over an extended 10 furlongs. Dropped back to a mile after that latter effort, Goldikova went through the remainder of her three-year-old season unbeaten as she improved into an outstanding filly. Group One victories over Darjina in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp were merely mouth-watering aperitifs to the season’s highlight, a stunning triumph over Kip Deville in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, California, USA, in October, 2008, when she showed blistering acceleration to put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
Goldikova finished out of the first three for the only time in her career when returning to action in May, 2009, as she was a below-par seventh in a soft-ground renewal of the Prix d’Ispahan. Given time to get back to her brilliant best, Goldikova was next seen at Newmarket’s July Festival when she toyed with top-class fillies to score an emphatic half-length success in the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes. Deauville in August brought a second Prix Rothschild triumph, before a breathtaking six-length win over subsequent Prix du Moulin winner Aqlaam in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois two weeks later at the same track.
Longchamp in October, 2009, was the setting for a shock defeat as Goldikova tracked a scorching pace and then attempted to strike for home two and a half furlongs out in the seven-furlong Total Prix de la Foret. She was headed 50 yards from the line as Varenar and Sweet Hearth took first and second. That third was forgotten when Goldikova’s trademark extra gear allowed her to quicken from the rear after being drawn out wide and storm past her rivals to victory in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile, again at Santa Anita. In succeeding for the second time at the Thoroughbred World Championships, Goldikova emulated another great French mare, Miesque, whom Freddy Head had ridden to both of her Breeders’ Cup Mile wins.
Goldikova commenced 2010 with a smooth victory over Byword in the nine-furlong Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp in May, and unleashed her blistering turn of foot over a furlong out when holding off the game Paco Boy by a neck in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. She landed a third consecutive win in the Prix Rothschild when slamming the Group One-winning three-year-old Music Show by three lengths and was sent off odds-on to win a second Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville. But on very soft ground, she found Makfi to be in devastating form and crossed the line second, two and a half lengths behind the Classic-winning colt.
Goldikova was back to her devastating best on October 3, when she returned to Longchamp and banished the ghost of her Prix de la Foret defeat 12 months earlier. Olivier Peslier, her ever-present rider, went to the front on Goldikova before taking a tug and allowing Regal Parade to go on at the top of the straight. The mare manoeuvred around Regal Parade with a furlong remaining and sprinted away from the pursuing Paco Boy who once again was forced to bow to her supremacy.
No horse had ever won three Breeders’ Cup races but Goldiova rewrote the record books at Churchill Downs on November 6, when she overcame an unfavourable wide draw and 10 top-class rivals to assure her place in the select pantheon of elite champions. Goldikova once again unleashed a breathtaking burst of speed to surge clear of her rivals inside the final furlong and took the spoils by a length and three quarters from American turf champion Gio Ponti. She remains in training for 2011.
Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
FRANKEL (GB)
2 b c Galileo (IRE) – Kind (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
2010 form: 1111
Owner: Khalid Abdulla
Trainer: Henry Cecil
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
In just four racecourse appearances, Frankel has already proved a fitting tribute to the legendary US trainer Bobby Frankel, who provided owner/breeder Khalid Abdulla with a host of big race victories in America until his untimely death in November, 2009.
The home-bred son of Galileo made an eye-catching winning debut when readily scoring in a mile maiden on Newmarket’s July Course on August 13.
He built on that promising start when quickening clear of two rivals for a bloodless 13-length victory over subsequent Group One Prix Marcel Boussac third Rainbow Springs in a mile conditions race at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on September 10.
The manner of his win saw Frankel propelled towards the head of the ante-post markets for both the 2,000 Guineas and the Investec Derby in 2011 and he showed himself as a juvenile of uncommon ability with a stunning success in the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on September 25.
Not content with the sedate pace, Tom Queally took up the running entering the straight and Frankel accelerated away from the field with ease to post an almost effortless 10-length triumph over Klammer.
His trainer then suggested that Frankel was the finest juvenile to have passed through his hands since Wollow in 1975 (who subsequently went on to win the 2,000 Guineas). Frankel’s final start of 2010 came at Newmarket on October 16 in the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes.
A strong line-up for the seven-furlong event also included dual Group One winner Dream Ahead and Saamidd, who had been very impressive when landing the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Held up at the rear of the field, Frankel began to make smooth progress with three furlongs remaining, led before the furlong-pole and defeated Roderic O’Connor by two and a quarter lengths in good style.
The runner-up strongly endorsed the form when winning a Group One in France afterwards and Frankel heads into the winter as a warm favourite for the Classics, the 2,000 Guineas and Investec Derby.
Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
MISTY FOR ME (IRE)
2 b f Galileo (IRE) – Butterfly Cove (USA) (Storm Cat (USA))
2010 form: 01211
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien IRE
Breeder: March Thoroughbreds
Misty For Me is the recipient of the 2010 Cartier Award for being the season’s outstanding two-year-old filly after posting two fantastic Group One victories in Ireland and France during an excellent juvenile campaign.
The Galileo filly’s first four outings came at the Curragh, with her career commencing in a seven-furlong maiden on June 26. She gave little indication that day of what was to follow as she was sent off a 20/1 shot and finished 10th of 12 runners, beaten 19 lengths, after running green.
She clearly learnt from that experience as, dropped to six furlongs on July 17, the filly tasted victory for the first time when she led with over a furlong to go and kept on well to score by a length and a quarter.
Misty For Me returned to seven furlongs for the Group Two Keeneland Debutante Stakes on August 8 and took second, a length behind fellow Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly nominee Laughing Lashes.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge turned the tables on that rival over the same course and distance three weeks later by securing a length-verdict over her rival in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes.
The talented bay ventured to Longchamp, France, for the Group One Total Prix Marcel Boussac on October 3. Unhindered by the very soft going, Misty For Me engaged in a battling duel with Helleborine, losing and then regaining the lead within the final furlong to win by a length under Johnny Murtagh.
Misty For Me’s dam is a half-sister to the 1999 Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt Award winner Fasliyev, out of a half-sister to US Grade One winners Menifee and Desert Wine.
Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Colt
WORKFORCE (GB)
3 b c King´s Best (USA) – Soviet Moon (IRE) (Sadler’s Wells (USA))
2010 form: 2151
Owner: Khalid Abdulla
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Workforce’s record-breaking Investec Derby victory at Epsom Downs in June marked him as a brilliant colt with abundant potential.
His excellent win in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, France, four months later set him apart as a champion and the powerful colt receives the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt Award for 2010.
Workforce is the third foal of the unraced Soviet Moon, a full-sister to Racing Post Trophy and St Leger winner Brian Boru. The strapping home-bred son of 2,000 Guineas winner King’s Best was soon given the nickname ‘Sefton’ at Sir Michael Stoute’s Freemason Lodge Stables, after the police horse injured in the 1982 Hyde Park bombings.
He made his debut in a seven-furlong two-year-old maiden at Goodwood on September 23, 2009, when he quickened impressively to record an emphatic six-length triumph over the Ralph Beckett-trained Oasis Dancer.
Despite featuring prominently in the winter markets for both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, Workforce missed the Newmarket Classic after taking a while to come to hand and connections focused on aiming him at a Derby trial.
After missing his intended reappearance in the Classic Trial at Sandown, Workforce finally made his eagerly awaited seasonal return in the Group Two totesport Dante Stakes at York on May 13.
Sent off a well-supported 2/1 chance for the extended 10-furlong contest, Workforce’s bit slipped through his mouth, hampering jockey Ryan Moore’s efforts to galvanise him. Despite this inconvenience, the colt stayed on to take second, three and a quarter lengths behind the impressive winner Cape Blanco, subsequently triumphant in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.
Workforce, a 6/1 shot for the Investec Derby on June 5, put up a stunning performance as he closed on the pace-setting At First Sight and drew away from that rival inside the distance for a seven-length victory in a course record time of 2m 31.33s, beating the previous record of 2m 32.31s set by Lammtarra in 1995. Workforce is the only horse beaten in the Dante Stakes to win the Derby.
The colt was expected to enhance his reputation in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Betfair) at Ascot in July as the 8/11 favourite. After racing keenly and then hanging around the turn, Workforce wilted to finish fifth, 17 lengths behind his stable companion Harbinger who powered to a sensational 11-length triumph.
The mark of a true champion is often displayed in their ability to bounce back from such a reversal and Workforce did just that at Longchamp on October 3.
The colt displayed speed and courage to quicken between horses at a crucial point in the home straight that enabled him to take the lead approaching the final furlong.
Faced with a determined challenge from the Japanese raider Nakayama Festa, Workforce exhibited outstanding ability as he held his rival in the closing stages to register a head victory under Moore.
The three-year-old travelled to Churchills Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for the US$3-million Breeders’ Cup Turf but was withdrawn from the Grade One race because of the firm ground. He remains in training for 2011.
Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
SNOW FAIRY (IRE)
3 b f Intikhab (USA) – Woodland Dream ((IRE) (Charnwood Forest (IRE))
2010 form: 111241
Owner: Anamoine Limited
Trainer: Ed Dunlop
Breeder: Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc.
Snow Fairy established her position as the leading middle distance filly of her generation in Europe with victories in the Investec Oaks at Epsom and Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh and is this year’s recipient of the Cartier Award for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
Bred by the Duquesa de Durcal y Borbon’s Windflower Overseas Holdings, Snow Fairy was bought in for 1,800 euros as a yearling at Tattersalls Ireland in December, 2008.
She is the first foal of seven-furlong winner Woodland Dream, who is a half-sister to smart middle-distance runners Big Bad Bob and Persian Lightning, from the further family of 1999 Derby winner Oath.
Snow Fairy was kept fairly busy throughout her two-year-old season in 2009. Racing six times, she easily landed a six-furlong Polytrack maiden at Lingfield that July and posted a couple of good efforts in Group Three company, the pick being a close third to Sent From Heaven in the Berry Brothers And Rudd Prestige Stakes at Goodwood.
The Intikhab filly held no Classic engagements as she headed into her three-year-old career but a three-length victory over Pipette in the Listed Blue Square Height Of Fashion Stakes over just short of 10 furlongs at Goodwood on May 19, prompted connections to supplement her for the 12-furlong Investec Oaks at a cost of £20,000.
That proved to be money well spent as, under an inspired ride from Ryan Moore, she came with a powerful run in the final furlong to clinch a gutsy neck victory over Meeznah in the Epsom Downs Classic.
With one Classic in the bag, Snow Fairy headed to the Curragh for the Darley Irish Oaks. That assignment proved easier as the improving three-year-old sauntered to an imperious eight-length triumph.
Snow Fairy tested her mettle against older fillies and mares in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York in August. She ran with great credit to take second behind the formidable Midday, who already had Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Blue Square Nassau Stakes wins in the bag.
Connections took the sporting decision to bid for further Classic glory in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 11. After travelling smoothly for much of the race, Snow Fairy found that the extended mile and three quarters of the Classic stretched her stamina beyond its limits and she was unable to do any more than plug on to finish a game fourth, three lengths behind the triumphant Arctic Cosmos.
She ended her year with a scintillating victory by four lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup under Moore at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan on November 14 and remains in training for next year.
strictly embargoed until tonight at 11pm UK time, Tuesday, November 16, 2010 (6pm New York time, midnight Paris time, 3am (Nov 17) Dubai time, 7am (Nov 17) Hong Kong time, 8am (Nov 17) Japan time and 10am (Nov 17) Melbourne time, etc.
Please do not contact the winners beforehand because they do not know they have
won until during the awards’ ceremony itself.
Cartier Champion Stayer
RITE OF PASSAGE (GB)
6 ch g Giant’s Causeway (USA) – Dahlia’s Krissy (USA) (Kris S (USA))
2010 form: 1
Owner: Dr Ronan Lambe
Trainer: Dermot Weld IRE
Breeder: Newsells Park Stud
Rite Of Passage clinches this year’s Cartier Award for the leading stayer. Trained by Dermot Weld for Dr Ronan Lambe, the gelding raced only once on the Flat this season but made that outing count with a thrilling neck victory over Age Of Aquarius in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
The six-year-old had already made his name in the National Hunt sphere with thirds at the Cheltenham Festival in both 2009 and 2010, in the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper and Grade One Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle respectively. Dermot Weld’s late-maturing charge is lightly-raced under both codes and made a belated debut under Flat Rules (he raced in four bumpers – Flat races staged under National Hunt Rules) at Ballinrobe in September, 2009. He followed that maiden success with an impressive triumph in the Leopardstown November Handicap. The Ascot Gold Cup over two and a half miles was his third start on the Flat and Rite Of Passage maintained his unbeaten record in fine style under Pat Smullen.
Weld purchased the Giant’s Causeway gelding for 20,000 guineas as a yearling at Tattersalls in October, 2005, and Rite Of Passage originally raced for Essex-based Chris McHale before being sold privately to Dr Ronan Lambe prior to his first Cheltenham Festival start in 2009. Rite Of Passage’s dam was a multiple winner in the US and is a granddaughter of the great race mare Dahlia, whose global Group One triumphs included two victories in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1973 & 1974).
Cartier Champion Sprinter
STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS)
4 ch c Choisir (AUS) – Gold Anthem (AUS) (Made Of Gold (USA))
2010 form: 413511
Owner: Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michelle Massey
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien IRE
Breeder: Emily Krstina
Starspangledbanner is the recipient of the 2010 Cartier Award for Champion Sprinter. The son of Choisir is the third foal of Gold Anthem, who was placed in stakes company in Australia. He was initially sold at the 2008 William Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for AUS $120,000 and his career began in Australia under the care of trainer Leon Corstens. After rising rapidly through the ranks down under, the speedy chestnut raced to a first Group One success in The Age Caulfield Guineas over a mile in October, 2009, but it was at sprint distances that he excelled thereafter. In January, 2010, he was purchased as a future stallion prospect by Coolmore for a fee reputed to be just over AUS$10 million. His second Group One victory came soon after in the Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in February and, following a fast-finishing third in the Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March, he headed to Europe and the Ballydoyle stable of Ireland’s champion trainer, Aidan O’Brien.
The colt’s first outing for his new handler saw him finish fifth to Prime Defender in the Group Two Duke Of York Stakes on May 12, but he left that form well and truly behind him next time out in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Starting the 13/2 joint-favourite, he powered away from the front on the stands’ side, in a style reminiscent of his sire’s victory in the same race seven years earlier, and burnt off all challengers, eventually coming home a length and a half clear of Society Rock.
After that victory, O’Brien enthused: “Before York he was only half-speeding but his half-speeding was unbelievable. He was just ready to start at York and got tired but his work since then has been incredible – his second-last furlong in his final piece of work was just under nine and a half seconds, which I have never seen before. He is without doubt the fastest sprinter I have trained.”
Starspangledbanner went on to accomplish what his sire could not by following the Royal Ascot success with victory in the six-furlong Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 9. Having raced prominently under Johnny Murtagh, the colt powered by the trail-blazing Equiano for a neck verdict.
He was expected to annex the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August but had to settle for a valiant second behind 100/1 shot Sole Power in that five-furlong contest. He returned to six furlongs for his final start in the Group One Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 4. Although the blistering brilliance of high summer had faded – perhaps not surprising for a horse that had been on the go in two hemispheres, without a break for 13 months – he finished a respectable fifth behind Markab.
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit 2010
RICHARD HANNON
Richard Hannon has been in the front rank of his profession for the best part of four decades and few years, if any, can have brought him more satisfaction than 2010, when214 victories for his Wiltshire stables reaped total prize money of £3,226,657, thus propelling the trainer to a second British trainers’ championship.
Hannon was born in Lewes, East Sussex, on May 30, 1945, and learned from his father, Harry Hannon, the intricacies of buying and training racehorses. He was also a drummer in bands around the Andover area, including Men Friday, the Strangers and the Melody Makers, but the late nights and travelling involved with that proved incompatible with the early hours and constant demands of a racing stable.
When his father retired in 1970, Hannon took over the training licence at East Everleigh, starting with nine horses. He was soon defying fashion by annexing top races from his base outside of the main racing centres.
A large part of his success has come from good value horses purchased from the sales in conjunction with bloodstock agents, Jack and Peter Doyle, although nowadays owner-breeders such as the Queen are numbered among his patrons.
Hannon is noted as a master of precocious Flat horses but his first winnercame over hurdles at Chepstow on March 30, 1970, when Sir Nulli triumphed in the Mathern Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle under Jimmy Uttley. He soon broke his duck on the Flat when Ampney Prince scored in a Newbury two-year-old maiden on April 17 that year.
Hannon’s career progressed at a rapid rate as he focused his efforts on the Flat and its more lucrative returns. As early as April, 1972, he had saddled his first Pattern race winner as Crespinall captured the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom Downs, en route to winning the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood that summer.
Every trainer dreams of a Classic victory and Hannon realised that ambition in only his fourth season with a licence. The dream maker in question was the 1972 Mill Reef Stakes winner Mon Fils, who caused a shock when winning the 1973 2,000 Guineas at the huge odds of 50/1 in the colours of Brenda Davis at Newmarket.
He had to wait 14 years for a second Classic triumph. In keeping with Hannon’s reputation as a master trainer of two-year-olds, Don’t Forget Me had landed the Vintage Stake at Goodwood and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster as a juvenile. He was sent off at 9/1 for the 1987 2,000 Guineas and made all under Willie Carson for a neck verdict. The Ahonoora colt further advertised his trainer’s talents when adding the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Three years later, Tirol completed that same double for Hannon, who by this time was firmly established among the top echelon of English trainers. The following year, 1991, saw him saddle 100 winners in a season for the first time as his operation expanded to incorporate a further yard at a former stud farm in Herridge, close to East Everleigh.
That year also emphasised the trainer’s versatility as he returned to his roots with a couple of Grade One victories over hurdles. Within two days in December, the grey Gran Alba won the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park and Lift And Load carried off the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
Back on the Flat, Hannon enjoyed some stunning successes in 1992, led by the “Pocket Rocket”, Lyric Fantasy, one of the fastest two-year-old fillies ever to race in Britain. Her victory over her older stable mate, the July Cup and Prix de l’Abbaye winner Mr Brooks, in York’s Group One Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs earned her the champion two-year-old filly crown.
That same year, Pip’s Pride enjoyed Group One glory in the Phoenix Stakes, while at Royal Ascot, Niche won the Norfolk Stakes, Shalford landed the Cork & Orrery Stakes and Beyton clinched the King Edward VII Stakes.
A French Classic also fell the trainer’s way when Assessor won the Prix Royal Oak. All in all it was a fantastic season and Hannon ended the year as champion trainer in Britain for the first time.
The handler continued to accrue top-flight victories throughout the 1990s. Lemon Souffle took the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Assessor the Prix du Cadran and Right Win followed Group One success in Italy in 1993 with victory in the 1996 running of the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle.
Risky trod in Lyric Fantasy’s hoof prints by winning the 1993 Queen Mary Stakes, Swing Low won the same year’s Lockinge Stakes and Celebration Mile, Caramba took the Falmouth Stakes and Nassau Stakes, Wildwood Flower annexed the Ayr Gold Cup, Bold Edge took Ascot’s Cork & Orrery Stakes and the Diadem Stakes and Churlish Charm scored in the 1999 Yorkshire Cup.
Throughout the past decade, Hannon has continued to pillage races with a powerful team that in 2010 numberedaround 200.
At Goodwood in 2003, Hannon supplied Pat Eddery with a thrilling final Group One success of the jockey’s illustrious career when the 20/1 shot Reel Buddy clinched the Sussex Stakes.
Other major triumphs in the past decade include the Cheveley Park Stakes (2007) and Coronation Stakes (2008) with Indian Ink and the Prix de la Foret (2008) and Queen Anne Stakes (2009) with Paco Boy.
But 2010 has proved to be a year to remember for Hannon. Paco Boy clinched another Group One when taking the totesport.com Lockinge Stakes in the spring, Canford Cliffs proved himself as an outstanding miler with victories in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes. A further Group One win went his way thanks to Dick Turpin in the Prix Jean Prat.
Those successes were complemented by a very strong two-year-old team that included Royal Ascot winners Strong Suit and Memory, as well as Group Two scorers King Torus, Libranno and the flying grey Zebedee.
The last-named trio were among Hannon’s record nine successes at Glorious Goodwood in July, a feat made all the more remarkable given that each of those nine winners was partnered by the trainer’s son-in-law Richard Hughes.
Hannon’s overall record at Goodwood is outstanding. Since Crespinall set the ball rolling 38 years ago, he has gone on to record a total of 195 Goodwood victories, making him the most successful current trainer at the Sussex course. Of those wins, 56 have come at the flagship Glorious Goodwood meeting where he has been leading trainer three times (2010, 9 wins; 2008, 4 wins; 1993, 5 wins).
His Royal Ascot record is also impressive. The triumphs of Strong Suit (Coventry Stakes), Memory (Norfolk Stakes) and Canford Cliffs (St James’s Palace Stakes) took his tally during that five-day June meeting to 29 this year and a second Royal Ascot Leading Trainer Award, while his summer dominance was also in evidence at Newmarket’s July Festival where he gained the three-day meeting’s training honours with five victories including all the two-year-old Group races.
One of Hannon’s particular fortes is landing lucrative sales races with inexpensively-bought juveniles. He has clinched the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on seven occasions, while Ascot’s Watership Down Stud Sales Race has fallen to him three times and other such contests won include the DBS St Leger Yearling Stakes, Tattersalls Ireland Sales Stakes, Goffs Million, Goffs Fillies’ Million and Goffs Million Sprint.
Hannon has notched at least 100 winners in 19 of the past 20 seasons. He was crowned champion trainer for the first time in 1992 and stormed to this year’s title when he smashed through the 200-winner barrier for the first time in his career. Of the 214 winners seen in 2010, 122 were in two-year-old races and provided by 77 juveniles.
He married his wife, Jo, in 1966 and the couple has six children – the triplets Richard Jnr (his assistant trainer), Henry and Lizzie (who is married to stable jockey Richard Hughes) – Fanny (who is married to trainer Sylvester Kirk), Claire and Julie.
Hannon recently underwent a successful heart bypass operation.
Winners at the Cartier Racing Awards
2010 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Frankel
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Misty For Me
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Workforce
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Snow Fairy
Cartier Sprinter: Starspangledbanner
Cartier Stayer: Rite Of Passage
Cartier Older Horse: Goldikova
Cartier Horse of the Year: Goldikova, owned by the Wertheimer brothers
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Richard Hannon
2009 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: St Nicholas Abbey
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Special Duty
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Sea The Stars
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Sariska
Cartier Sprinter: Fleeting Spirit
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Goldikova
Cartier Horse of the Year: Sea The Stars, owned by Christopher Tsui
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Oxx
2008 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Mastercraftsman
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Rainbow View
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: New Approach
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Zarkava
Cartier Sprinter: Marchand D’Or
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Duke Of Marmalade
Cartier Horse of the Year: Zarkava, owned by HH the Aga Khan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
2007 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: New Approach
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Natagora
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Authorized
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Peeping Fawn
Cartier Sprinter: Red Clubs
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Dylan Thomas
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dylan Thomas, owned by Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: The Niarchos Family
2006 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Teofilo
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Finsceal Beo
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: George Washington
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Mandesha
Cartier Sprinter: Reverence
Cartier Stayer: Yeats
Cartier Older Horse: Ouija Board
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ouija Board, owned by Lord Derby
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Peter Willett
2005 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: George Washington
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Rumplestiltskin
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Hurricane Run
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Divine Proportions
Cartier Sprinter: Avonbridge
Cartier Stayer: Westerner
Cartier Older Horse: Azamour
Cartier Horse of the Year: Hurricane Run, owned by Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Henry Cecil
2004 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Shamardal
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Divine Proportions
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Bago
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ouija Board
Cartier Sprinter: Somnus
Cartier Stayer: Westerner
Cartier Older Horse: Soviet Song
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ouija Board, owned by Lord Derby
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: David & Patricia Thompson
2003 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: One Cool Cat
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Attraction
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Dalakhani
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Russian Rhythm
Cartier Sprinter: Oasis Dream
Cartier Stayer: Persian Punch
Cartier Older Horse: Falbrav
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dalakhani, owned by HH the Aga Khan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Lord Oaksey
2002 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Hold That Tiger
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Six Perfections
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Rock Of Gibraltar
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Kazzia
Cartier Sprinter: Continent
Cartier Older Horse: Grandera
Cartier Stayer: Vinnie Roe
Cartier Horse of the Year: Rock of Gibraltar, owned by Sir Alex Ferguson & Sue Magnier
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Prince Khalid bin Abdulla
Cartier Special Award: Tony McCoy
2001 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Queen’s Logic
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Johannesburg
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Banks Hill
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Galileo
Cartier Stayer: Persian Punch
Cartier Sprinter: Mozart
Cartier Older Horse: Fantastic Light
Cartier Horse of the Year: Fantastic Light, owned by Godolphin
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Magnier
2000 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Superstar Leo
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Tobougg
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Petrushka
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Sinndar
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Sprinter: Nuclear Debate
Older Horse: Kalanisi
Cartier Horse of the Year: Giant’s Causeway, owned by Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Cartier Millennium Award of Merit: HM The Queen
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: HH the Aga Khan
1999 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Torgau
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Fasliyev
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ramruma
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Montjeu
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Sprinter: Stravinsky
Cartier Older Horse: Daylami
Cartier Horse of the Year: Daylami, owned by Godolphin
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Peter Walwyn
1998 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Aljabr
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Bint Allayl
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Dream Well
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Cape Verdi
Cartier Sprinter: Tamarisk
Cartier Stayer: Kayf Tara
Cartier Older Horse: Swain
Cartier Horse of the Year: Dream Well, owned by the Niarchos Family
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: The Head Family
1997 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Embassy
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Xaar
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ryafan
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Peintre Celebre
Cartier Stayer: Celeric
Cartier Sprinter: Royal Applause
Cartier Older Horse: Pilsudski
Cartier Horse of the Year: Peintre Celebre, owned by Daniel Wildenstein
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Sir Peter O’Sullevan
1996 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Pas De Reponse
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Bahamian Bounty
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Bosra Sham
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Helissio
Cartier Stayer: Nononito
Cartier Sprinter: Anabaa
Cartier Older Horse: Halling
Cartier Horse of the Year: Helissio, owned by Enrique Sarasola
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Frankie Dettori
1995 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Blue Duster
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Alhaarth
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Ridgewood Pearl
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Lammtarra
Cartier Stayer: Double Trigger
Cartier Sprinter: Hever Golf Rose
Cartier Older Horse: Further Flight
Cartier Horse of the Year: Ridgewood Pearl, owned by Anne Coughlan
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: John Dunlop
1994 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Gay Gallanta
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Celtic Swing
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Balanchine
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: King’s Theatre
Cartier Stayer: Moonax
Cartier Sprinter: Lochsong
Cartier Older Horse: Barathea
Cartier Horse of the Year: Barathea, owned by Sheikh Mohammed
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Marquess of Hartington
1993 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Lemon Souffle
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: First Trump
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Intrepidity
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Commander In Chief
Cartier Stayer: Vintage Crop
Cartier Sprinter: Lochsong
Cartier Older Horse: Opera House
Cartier Horse of the Year: Lochsong, owned by Jeff Smith
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Francois Boutin
1992 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Lyric Fantasy
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Zafonic
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: User Friendly
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Rodrigo De Triano
Cartier Stayer: Drum Taps
Cartier Sprinter: Mr Brooks
Cartier Older Horse: Mr Brooks
Cartier Horse of the Year: User Friendly, owned by Bill Gredley
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Lester Piggott
1991 – CARTIER RACING AWARDS
Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly: Culture Vulture
Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt: Arazi
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly: Kooyonga
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt: Suave Dancer
Cartier Stayer: Turgeon
Cartier Sprinter: Sheikh Albadou
Cartier Older Horse: Terimon
Cartier Horse of the Year: Arazi, owned by Allen Paulson & Sheikh Mohammed
Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: Henri Chalhoub
