'Special' Rosallion ready to eclipse Hannon greats at Goodwood - but third clash with stablemate Haatem will have to wait

Richard Hannon believes Rosallion could be the best horse in the stable's 56-year history after he revealed the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner has continued to dazzle at home in preparation for next week's Qatar Sussex Stakes.

Hannon, who took over from his father in 2013, suggested the three-time Group 1 winner could even prove better than Canford Cliffs, the yard's legendary winner of Glorious Goodwood's flagship mile race in 2010, when the 11-10 favourite lines up on Wednesday week.

Rosallion, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, is 11-10 for next Wednesday’s big race after producing exhilarating displays when bursting clear in the closing stages to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes this season. However, connections may consider riding him closer to the pace to avoid any potential traffic problems on the tricky cambers of the South Downs track.

Rosallion and work-rider Timmy Murphy lead their stablemates at Richard Hannon's yard on Tuesday morningCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's a big buzz for everyone in the place having a horse like him," said Hannon, speaking at a media event on Tuesday. "Like Canford Cliffs, he does everything easy at home and works really well. We've had some very, very good horses but he's always been a bit special.

"He's always been like them and sometimes you get caught calling horses what you hope they are rather than what they actually are. This fella, though, I feel has proved it and so you have to compare him to those horses and he might even be better.

"He improved in the Irish Guineas and his best performance was at Royal Ascot. He seems to be getting bigger and stronger as the races go by. That can't keep going, but I'd like to think he'll continue to improve."

Hannon will leave riding plans to Sean Levey, who has been aboard all seven starts, although connections may want to avoid the potential jeopardy involved with challenging from the off the pace. 

"People say to me the way he wins his races is exciting, although I find it horrible," he added. "The style of running, the way he cuts them down late, means he has sailed a bit close to the wind. He did well to get out at Ascot, but if you have enough horse you can pretty much get out of anywhere. He was travelling great that day and he picked up on a horse who had first run on him.

"We might ride him a little closer, but that's up to Sean. We've done our job ensuring he's fit and well and he'll go on and do his."

Haatem: set to head to Deauville next monthCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Stablemate Haatem will miss Glorious Goodwood as connections prioritise trying to win his first Group 1, with the Prix Jacques le Marois his likely next race.

The Deauville contest on August 11 could kickstart an international campaign for Wathnan's Racing's exciting three-year-old, who chased home Rosallion when placed in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish Guineas before striking at Royal Ascot in the Jersey.

"I'm sure a Group 1 will come his way and hopefully it's the Prix Jacques le Marois," Hannon said. "There's a lot of lovely races in him this year and next. He could go to big races all over the world and he's going to run a super race. He's ultra-reliable, sound and extremely talented."

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