Fresh off running second in the Mar. 26 G1 Al Quoz Sprint over the Meydan turf in Dubai, Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire})'s connections are considering a start in the G2 Duke Of York S. on May 11 for the 4-year-old filly. The McMurray Family colourbearer won the G3 Hackwood S. last July and ran fourth in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4. She tired to 11th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on Oct. 16 and was third in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 26.
“Happy Romance ran a lovely race in Dubai. I was very happy,” said trainer Richard Hannon. “It was just a shame she was not drawn closer to the rail, as it seemed they had a bit of an advantage over there, but we were delighted with her.
“I put her in the Duke of York the other day, but I have put her in the two races at Ascot, the five and the six [G1 King's Stand S. and G1 Platinum Jubilee S.], and we will work back from there, really.
“She will have a run beforehand, there is that one at York perhaps–there are options–but she will have a little break now and keep her ticking over.”
Group winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has exited his victory in the Listed Doncaster Mile in good order. Hannon is mulling either the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury on May 14 or the G3 bet365 Mile on Apr. 22 for the 4-year-old colt.
He added “Chindit has options. There is the Lockinge or that race at Sandown [the Group Two bet365 Mile] as well, so that is probably the next stop–one of those two, probably.
“I don't want to run him on soft ground, though.”
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