The Curragh could be next for Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) after the Richard Hannon-trained colts finished second and third respectively behind Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Qipco 2000 Guineas on Saturday.
The Hannon stable last recorded victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas when Canford Cliffs (Ire) ran out a hugely impressive scorer back in 2010.
“I'm immensely proud of both horses,” Hannon reflected. “They ran good races and we'll have a lot of sport with them through the year.
He added, “The winner is an extremely good horse, I never want to see him again, but we might take him on at Ascot around a bend and it might be a different story. I think on the way, they'll both go to Ireland. That's the plan.”
Meanwhile, Clive Cox is charting a path towards the French Derby for Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who bolstered his reputation with a fine effort in fourth on Saturday.
Cox said, “I hope he will continue his progress and I would say, after speaking with Jeff (Smith, owner) this morning, that the French Derby is going to be our likely target.”
Ghostwriter also holds an entry in York's Dante S. later this month, but with a short span of time between the the Guineas and his French Classic assignment, Cox is willing to forego a fact-finding mission over 10 furlongs and cross the Channel with a freshened-up Derby contender.
“The Dante comes soon enough and although the Dante would be ideal, we were very keen to run in the Guineas and he justified that with a really solid run,” he Cox.
“York will come soon enough and then the timeframe between the Guineas and the French Derby is probably going to be much more suitable.
“He's a very nice horse and I'm just very pleased he has come out of the race well and we can now look forward to him going a mile and a quarter.”
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