Haatem storms clear to brilliant Craven victory and enters 2,000 Guineas picture

Richard Hannon strengthened his hand for next month's Qipco 2,000 Guineas when Haatem gave him a third success in the Group 3 bet365 Craven Stakes.

What had looked a close affair on paper and on the book, with leading fancies from Godolphin and France, was anything but in the end as Haatem romped to victory by three and a half lengths from Eben Shaddad.

The winner was cut to 20-1 (from 100) by Paddy Power for the first colts' Classic on May 4 but bookies also moved quickly to cut his stablemate and work companion Rosallion to 9-2 (from 6) in the wake of this clear-cut success under Sean Levey.

This was a second high-profile win at the three-day Craven meeting for Levey, who landed the Listed Feilden Stakes on Jayarebe on Wednesday.

French raider Alcantor was backed into 2-1 favourite close to the off but raced too keenly in behind Godolphin's Native Approach on the stands' side and faded late to finish sixth behind the 17-2 winner.

Hannon said: "Haatem is a good horse. Last year he won the Vintage Stakes with the subsequent Champagne Stakes winner [Iberian] behind him. He finished sixth in the Dewhurst and he's won the Craven in great style. He enjoyed the trip and was on the right end of the race as they've been winning from the front here this week."

He added: "Rosallion works superior to this fellow at home and when we took them to Kempton recently, but what matters is what they do on the track. Haatem is in the German Guineas but the owner Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Al Sabah won't be talked out of coming back here next month and rightly so.

"He could do no more than he has done here today and he gives us another nice string to our 2,000 Guineas bow. He's been doing all his work with Rosallion at Kempton and elsewhere and he may well do another piece with him beforehand. "

Haatem in the winner's enclosure after his emphatic success under Sean LeveyCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Hannon, whose previous Craven winners were Toormore (2014) and Kool Kompany (2015), has landed the 2,000 Guineas only once with Night Of Thunder (2014), who was second in the Greenham Stakes beforehand.

Hannon said: "All my previous Guineas winners have been beaten in their trials, so we'll see how we go."

Levey said: "He was a big horse for us last year when he didn't miss a dance and he's done well over the winter. He's been working well at home and it was either here or the Greenham and that has turned into a great rehearsal for him.

"The other horse, Rosallion, goes straight to the race and there was always a worry about the ground with him. If they both go to the Guineas you'll have to ask the boss which I'll be riding!"

John Gosden, joint-trainer of runner-up Eben Shaddad, said: "He ran well but will improve for the outing. He's in the French Guineas as well as the English and we'll make a decision when we see how he has come out of this."

Third was Sons And Lovers, whose rider Luke Morris said: "He's run a great race considering it was only his second start."

Craven analysis: form boosts for leading Guineas players

It would seem rather unfair on Haatem to use his victory in the bet365 Craven Stakes as a reason to get excited about other horses, but that was undoubtedly the consequence of his convincing win.

Seemingly exposed after nine runs as a juvenile, he was able to clear away from his opponents to win by three and a half lengths, although a tailwind at Newmarket this week has rather exaggerated the advantage held by those who race prominently, as Haatem did.

Given we know where we think we stand with Haatem, it makes sense to view his performance through the prism of one horse who beat him comprehensively and one thought superior to him.

On his last run as a two-year-old in the Dewhurst Stakes, Haatem was put firmly in his place by City Of Troy, as had also been the case in the Superlative Stakes last summer. As such, Aidan O’Brien, who sent out Cambridge to finish fourth in the Craven, will have been pleased to see the form continue to look solid.

City Of Troy powers clear of his rivals in the Dewhurst

City Of Troy dominated rivals including Haatem in the Dewhurst last OctoberCredit: Edward Whitaker

Haatem reversed form with Eben Shadad from the Dewhurst, perhaps backing up John Gosden’s assertion that his yard's runners would come on for their first outing. However, Haatem has shown himself to be a talented colt capable of holding his own in good races at a mile and beyond.

Yet you would surely think Haatem's performance would only further excite trainer Richard Hannon and those around him about the prospects of Rosallion in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

Connections have made no secret of their high opinion of last year’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner and Hannon reiterated after the Craven that Rosallion has greater inherent speed than his stablemate.

As for Alcantor, the Craven favourite, and Native Approach, they both pulled away their chances to show anything like their potential.
Analysis by Peter Scargill

Qipco 2,000 Guineas (May 4, Newmarket)

Coral: 4-6 City Of Troy, 5 Rosallion, 10 Notable Speech, 12 Ghostwriter, 14 Alyanaabi, Ancient Wisdom, Night Raider, 16 Henry Longfellow, River Tiber, Task Force, 25 Al Musmak, Haatem, Iberian, Johannes Brahms, Unquestionable, 33 bar

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