Hannon to bid for hat-trick in Weatherbys Super Sprint

Richard Hannon today confirmed five two-year-olds among the total of 28 at today´s five-day stage for the £135,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint, the feature event on Saturday´s seven-race programme at Newbury, in a bid to complete a hat-trick in this prestigious contest and sixth victory overall.

The Marlborough-based trainer has won this very valuable five-furlong event, which was inaugurated in 1991 and is open only to two-year-olds that were bought at public auctions as yearlings for 40,000 guineas or less, on five previous occasions courtesy of Lyric Fantasy (1992), Risky (1993), Miss Stamper (1996), Presto Vento (2002) and If Paradise last season.

If Paradise defied what was thought to be a chance-ruining draw of stall one to show blistering speed under jockey Dane O´Neill to beat Cop Hill Lad by one and three-quarter lengths - the only horse with a single-figure draw to finish in the top six. Hannon also saddled Prince Of Denmark and Mac The Knife in fourth and 15th respectively last year.

The trainer today revealed: 'Don´t Tell Mum, Canton and Grand Place are probables, while Gennie Bond and Earl Of Links are possibles for the Weatherbys Super Sprint.'

Don´t Tell Mum made a winning debut in a maiden fillies´ contest at Bath at the end of May, when proving a head too powerful for subsequent winner Roodeye. The following month the Dansili filly, who fetched 20,000 guineas as a yearling, was seven lengths sixth to Damson in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot on her latest start.

Hannon said: 'Don´t Tell Mum was very jarred up when she returned from Ascot and she was actually lame for a time. But she has bounced back well these past 10 days and, off 8st 2lb and with Ryan Moore aboard, we have to fancy our chances.'

Canton, a 30,000 guineas purchase, did not have much room inside the final furlong when the three-length fourth to Sacred Nuts in a six-furlong nursery at Ascot on Saturday. The Desert Style colt had earlier won a five-furlong maiden on the all-weather at Lingfield on the third day of April, getting the better of Evanesce, who could re-oppose on Saturday, by one and a half lengths.

'Canton had been off for two months before he ran at Ascot, so, in the circumstances, it was a fair effort behind Sacred Nuts. He won´t find it easy to give 11lb to Don´t Tell Mum, but he is a useful horse and you wouldn´t rule him out,' commented the trainer.

Grand Place, who has 8st 7lb, was slowly away on his debut at Windsor on June 21, but improved nine days later to go down by four lengths to Notjustaprettyface when fourth in a five-furlong maiden at Kempton.

'Grand Place ran a good race last time out and is by Compton Place, the same sire as last year´s winner If Paradise. Who knows - lightning might strike twice!' added Hannon.

Rod Millman, who won the 1997 Weatherbys Super Sprint with Lord Kintyre and narrowly missed out on a second success in 2003 with Cop Hill Lad, is represented by Edge Fund and Happy Event. The former is still a maiden but has been tremendously consistent, being placed on all five of his racecourse starts, while Happy Event was successful in a six-furlong maiden at Windsor in June, when beating Bridge Place by three-quarters of a length.

An Irish raider, The Quiet Woman, trained by Francis Ennis, is likely while Tournedos, second in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, is one of three handled by Mick Channon - the others are Bibury Flyer and Evanesce.

Paul Greeves, Operations Director at Weatherbys, said today: 'Since the first running of the Weatherbys Super Sprint in 1991, Richard Hannon has proved that he has an exceptional eye for two-year-olds and his runners demand the utmost respect .

'There will be plenty of competition with a total of 28 two-year-olds going forward for Saturday´s race which is sure to be a thrilling renewal of the Weatherbys Super Sprint.'