Racing: Quick pick-me-up for Hanagan

By Tom Peacock
Published on 15/07/2012 01:30

A turn-up in the Darley July Cup had looked a distinct possibility and it was supplied by 20-1 shot Mayson as he led for virtually all the six furlongs at a saturated Newmarket.

It was a first British Group One winner for both trainer Richard Fahey and dual champion jockey Paul Hanagan, who was prostrate on the very same turf two weeks ago after a nasty fall, but the outsider rarely looked in any danger as he galloped past the line five lengths clear of The Cheka.

Mayson had appeared a sprinter of obvious potential when winning twice over the Rowley Mile in the spring but lost his chance in the stalls in the Duke of York Stakes and was well beaten in a Group Three race at Newcastle a fortnight earlier. The Hanagan-Fahey axis, not seen as often with the rider now retained by Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum, collected the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere together with Wootton Bassett in 2010.

“It’s typical of this game, the ups and downs, so it’s been an amazing couple of weeks,” said Hanagan.

“It’s a big weight off my shoulders. Being the champion jockey, you really need to be winning top-class races like this. It’s such a good buzz.”

Fahey said: “It’s fantastic for me and Paul. They don’t realise he’s still my number one and we borrow him from time to time!”

A rugged performance was required from Olympic Glory to reach the top of the podium by a head in the 32Red.com Superlative Stakes. It was the fourth time the juvenile Group Two has been landed by the Richard Hannon stable, whose runner had posted an excellent second to Dawn Approach in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. The 6-4 favourite showed great tenacity by not allowing a late challenge by Birdman to put him off his stride.

Ryan Moore wrapped up the top jockey title at the meeting when Hasopop (7-2) pulled seven lengths away from Godolphin’s 1-4 favourite Bircham in a three-runner 
Rossdales EBF Conditions Stakes. John Ryan’s Ocean Tempest (33-1) scraped home a hair’s breadth ahead of Fire Ship and Jake’s Destiny in the 32 Red Casino Handicap.