Hanalia

Hanalia battled on well to win the Group 2 Blandford Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday, and there could be even more to come now from Johnny Murtagh’s filly.

Held up out the back early on, the pace was not strong, and she had to make her ground as it quickened. Still last of the nine runners as they passed the three-furlong marker, Shane Foley took her towards the outside as they passed the two-furlong marker, and she picked up well from there. She hit the front deep inside the final furlong, and she kept on strongly to get home by a neck from Wingspan, who had led for most of the race. According to the RaceIQ data, Hanalia was fastest of all through each of the last four furlongs, dipping below 11 seconds for the penultimate furlong.

Winner of the Naas Oaks Trial in June, the Aga Khan’s filly ran better than her finishing position suggests in the Irish Oaks, and she did well on her last run before Sunday to finish second to Tarawa in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes over nine furlongs, coming from the rear and keeping on well over a distance that was probably short of her best. She came forward from that run on Sunday, and it appeared as if she appreciated the step back up to 10 furlongs. Unraced as a juvenile last year, this was just her fifth run, so there could still be a fair bit more to come from her. Her trainer mentioned the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Arc day as a next potential target, and she would be fully deserving of her place in that Group 1 contest.

The Curragh, 15th September 2024
© Sportinglife.com 17th September 2024