Super Sands Of Mali holds off Harry Angel for first Group 1 victory

The old guard of Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan were back in business on Britain’s richest-ever raceday as the popular trainer and jockey combined to ensure a sizeable slice of the big-race bounty headed back to North Yorkshire as Sand Of Mali landed the Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes.

Fahey’s fortress in Malton was the driving force behind Hanagan’s title-winning seasons in 2010 and 2011, an achievement that helped the down-to-earth jockey from Warrington land the prized job for Hamdan Al Maktoum and the many Group 1 opportunities that go with it.

When that chapter ended for Hanagan in 2016 he was able to slip straight back into life with his old mucker Fahey and, after joining forces for a first top-level success since Mayson won the 2012 July Cup, Hanagan paid a fitting tribute to his ally.

Watch Sands Of Mali gallop to glory in the Champions Sprint

“I enjoyed that a lot,” he said with an unmissable twinkle in his piercing blue eyes. “The boss has stuck by me for a long time. Even when I had the Sheikh Hamdan job he’s always been there for me, and to repay him with a big day like this is very special.

"I’ve got a lot of respect for Richard and it doesn’t get much better.”

Not only was the easier ground in his favour, Sands Of Mali was also left to his own devices in front, with Hanagan judging the pace beautifully and saving enough in reserve to hold the persistent challenge of the back-to-form Harry Angel in second.

“We’ve been raving about how good he was all season and it’s just great he’s shown it on the big stage,” added Hanagan. “I just loved the way he picked up again when Harry Angel came to challenge.

“I’ve been lucky enough to ride some very good horses, but I rate him up there with the best of them and I’m hoping there’s more improvement when he strengthens up a bit more.”

Sands Of Mali and Paul Hanagan return in triumphCredit: Edward Whitaker

Having finished a close second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, the winner had been a long way short of his best in two of his three subsequent tries at Group 1 level, and Fahey admitted plenty of head scratching had been done in the meantime.

“I always felt he was a Group 1 horse, but a couple of runs have been very disappointing and we don’t know why,” said the trainer. “We just got nailed in the Commonwealth and then it all went pear-shaped.

“As a trainer, when you believe in a horse and it doesn’t happen it’s frustrating. We were scratching our heads – we did scopes and checked his heart and couldn't find anything – but luckily it all went to plan today.”

Fahey said he hoped the Cool Silk Partnership's winner would be back next season, although he admitted that with a first Group 1 on his CV there was now a potential spanner in the works.

Runner-up Harry Angel looks more likely to have run his last race and went down all guns blazing as he finished one and a quarter lengths clear of soft-ground lover Donjuan Triumphant in third.

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