2,000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion showed a great turn of foot over the final furlong to deny stablemate Haatem in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday.
Rosallion (Sean Levey) edges out Haatem (Jamie Spencer) in a photo-finish (Pic – Racing TV)
Sean Levey still had plenty to do aboard the 10/11 favourite at the furlong marker, but the son of Blue Point responded to his rider’s urgings to get the nod over Jamie Spencer and Haatem in a photo-finish.
Jamie Spencer rode a prominent race on the runner-up and was looking behind for dangers when he hit the front two furlongs out. His mount Haatem showed great courage over the final 100 yards but was out-paced close home.
Aidan O’Brien’s River Tiber a further length and a quarter back in third.
A jubilant Richard Hannon commented post-race: “Rosallion was a bit keen early and Haatem is such a brave horse, he’s run such a lovely race and I’ve never known a horse to have as many supporters as he has. He probably didn’t deserve to get beat, but his day will come.”
“Rosallion, I’m absolutely delighted with him, I couldn’t be happier. He took a bit of time to pick them up. He proved he got the trip today and that was the pleasing thing.”
“We’ll go to the St James’s Palace Stakes and try our best to beat the horse that beat us last time. It will be hard.”
“Haatem has run the race of his life. This is a Guineas; they go on about how it’s not a vintage Guineas, but all the best horses had their chance and these two have run smashing races.”
“I think Haatem will get further and will discuss it with the owner.”
On Sunday Fallen Angel bounced back from her Newmarket disappointment to provide English trainer Karl Burke with victory in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.
A daughter of Too Darn Hot, she only finished eighth when favourite for the 1000 Guineas three weeks ago. She showed her true colours on her return to the track where she achieved juvenile Group 1 glory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes last September.
Fallen Angel was the 11/4 market leader to reward those who kept the faith and after a smart start raced on the pace from the off in the hands of Danny Tudhope.
The challengers were close up in behind entering the final three furlongs, but Burke’s grey found another gear once asked to do so and was well on top as she passed the post with two and three-quarter lengths in hand over the previously unbeaten A Lilac Rolla, with Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer also running with credit in third on her first start since October.
“I was confident we would see a different filly from Newmarket. I was pleased when the rain came to be fair. She just keeps galloping and stays very, very well,” said Tudhope.
