Hasanour

Hasanour put up a really nice performance to finish second to his stable companion Anamba in the listed seven-furlong contest at Naas last Sunday.

Settled towards the rear of the field and towards the inside from his inside draw through the early stages of the race, Michael Halford's horse travelled nicely into the home straight on the inside and still towards the rear of the field. Still on the bridle passing the three-furlong pole as his rivals - including the winner - came off the bridle around him, a wide gap opened up in front of him and he improved nicely for pressure. Anamba had gone for home in front of him, and she picked up impressively, but Hasanour stayed on really nicely along the inside rail to chaser her home, and he ran all the way to the line to finish a good second.

Hasanour is six now, he has raced 19 times in his career, he is not a typically unexposed horse, but he did not run until he made his racecourse debut in a bumper as a four-year-old. Also, this was his first run since he put up two disappointing efforts in the winter in Dubai, and he ran a cracker. He stayed on really well to take second place behind his classy stable companion over a distance that was short of his best, in a race that was run in a good time, the fastest comparative time on the day, marginally faster than standard and only 0.1secs/furlong slower than Racing Post par.

He holds an entry in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, and he would be of interest if he took his chance in that. A strongly-run stiff mile is probably close to optimal for him. If he does not go to Ascot, he will be of interest wherever he goes next, and it may be significant that he stepped up considerably from his first run to his second last season, just his second season racing. Also, Michael Halford's horses are just starting to roll now.

29th May 2016

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