Hanagan strikes it rich for Fahey as Peniaphobia takes £250k sprint

Paul HANAGAN enjoyed a profitable afternoon at Newbury with a 
big-race double highlighted by the victory of Peniaphobia for his old ally Richard Fahey in the richly-endowed Weatherbys Super Sprint.

For trainer Fahey, victory was 
vindication that this was the ideal race for the 5-1 winner, who had bypassed a trip to Royal Ascot to wait for a tilt at this £250,000 prize.

Lilbourne Lass was sent off the 4-1 favourite to give Richard Hannon an eighth Super Sprint win and proved much the best of a small group of six that raced on the far rail. Jimmy Quinn’s mount was in charge on her side throughout the final furlong and a half but Hanagan produced Peniaphobia at the right time to get up and score by a neck. An ecstatic Fahey said: “I’m delighted for the owners and I told them this was their race. It’s a great race to win, it’s been Richard Hannon’s race and I just joked with him it’s about time someone else won it.”

Hanagan said: “My horse was getting lonely in the middle but when he saw the other horse he went again and there was plenty left.”

Hanagan had earlier bagged Group Three glory through Heeraat for William Haggas in the GT Exhibitions Hackwood Stakes.