Hanagan victory hands Sheikh Hamdan Epsom Oaks one-two

Tom Flanagan 10:37 07/06/2014
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  • True blue: Paul Hanagan leads the way on Taghrooda.

    Paul Hanagan received rich praise from those associated with Taghrooda as he showed the assurance to match the athleticism of the filly beneath him to secure a first Classic winner in the Investec Oaks.

    Epsom is a treacherous course and the modest dual champion jockey overcame one sticky moment before sweeping right away and leading home Tarfasha.

    The win secured a one-two for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has retained Hanagan to ride in his familiar blue and white colours for the last two seasons. 

    Taghrooda was proving why market confidence has no guaranteed bearing on success, as she had been available at less than half her starting price of 5-1 after landing the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket a month ago, but the form had not worked out well. 

    As well as being 33-year-old Hanagan’s Oaks debut, it was a first victory in the race for trainer John Gosden, who will have taken pleasure in avenging the unlucky 2012 defeat of The Fugue.

    Taghrooda, who is still unbeaten, also represents a maiden Classic and Group One win for her burgeoning sire, the exceptional 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars.

    While she was officially recorded as an easy three-and-three-quarter-length winner, Gosden was best-placed to explain how impressive Hanagan had been in the saddle.

    “We had the position we wanted but at the latter part of the bend at Tattenham Corner, she got a bump and it threw her on her off-fore and he was very quick to get back on the near-fore. Full marks to Paul.”

    Hanagan said: “It went like clockwork really. You kind of plan for the race to go like that, I’d been planning it for the last month I think. She did get a bit of a bump and she changed legs, it took a while to get her organised again, but I was always happy from then.

    “I’m just more delighted to give something back to Sheikh Hamdan and all the team. They’ve put a lot of faith in me, and John’s team have done a marvellous job. I just pointed her today.”

    But Gosden added: “Paul’s being very modest, he’s a good team man and a pleasure to work with.

    “We had wanted to get two trials in, but it went soft at Sandown and the trials go bang, bang, bang, so we came here for a look last week at Breakfast with the Stars.

    “She was pretty chilled and seen it all before.

    “It’s great to win any Classic, it’s great for the owner to win with a home-bred, beating the one he bought, that’s the right way round.

    “She’s in the Irish Oaks, that’s the logical place to go. It’s a good, honest galloping track, we’ll go there and then take a look.

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