'He wants to see him race on' - Rosallion highly unlikely to run again this season but star colt will be back next year

Star three-year-old miler Rosallion may not run again this season but will race on next year.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt has been one of the stars of the season, with his sharp turn of foot bringing exciting victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot under Sean Levey. 

However, Rosallion was a last-minute absentee from last week’s Sussex Stakes, in which he was set to face his 2,000 Guineas conqueror Notable Speech for a third time. Godolphin’s star, who was a disappointing seventh at Ascot, ultimately made amends with a comfortable win at Glorious Goodwood.

The respiratory infection that led to Rosallion being sidelined has forced trainer Richard Hannon to rule him out of the Prix du Moulin on September 19, with connections keen to bypass that target in order to give him plenty of time to overcome the setback.

They are also keen to avoid testing conditions in the autumn, with Rosallion’s only previous run on soft ground resulting in defeat in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last September. He went on to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, the first of his three Group 1s, on his next start.

Sean Levey and Richard Hannon with Rosallion following his St James's Palace successCredit: Patrick McCann

"I spoke to Sheikh Obaid yesterday and he rang me to say he and Richard have decided it's highly unlikely that he will run again this season," said the owner's bloodstock adviser Liam O'Rourke.

"The ground would be soft if you look for mile targets for him beyond the Moulin and he was never keen to run him on the ground he endured at Doncaster in the Champagne.

"Nothing is firmly ruled in or out but I don't think the Breeders' Cup is likely. He wasn't keen to ship him that far and he sounded like he was likely to rule him out of the season and come back as a four-year-old."

Rosallion has only been beaten twice in his seven starts and his form could receive another boost when stablemate Haatem, who finished behind him in two Classics, tackles the Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.

O’Rourke added: "He's been amazing. He was always a very promising horse but I think this is reflective of the esteem he's held in – Sheikh Obaid doesn't want to risk him. He wants to see him race on."

The owner has other Group 1 horses to look forward to, with Matsuri and Royal Rhyme possibles for the Juddmonte International on August 21, while top sprinters Elite Status and Inisherin are entered in the Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 7.

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