Richard Hannon lands first Vintage Stakes with progressive Haatem - but he could have better at home

Richard Hannon has a little way to go to match his father's five winners in the Vintage Stakes, but he is one step closer after Haatem gave the trainer his breakthrough success in the race.  

Runner-up to 2,000 Guineas and Derby favourite City Of Troy in the Superlative Stakes last time, the son of Phoenix Of Spain hit the front in the final two furlongs and was not for pegging back under Sean Levey.

"I'm very pleased," said Hannon. "He's a lovely horse and he deserved that after running so well in the Coventry and the Superlative, having been unlucky in the Woodcote Stakes. He fluffed the start and didn't get any luck on the inside. That was a hard day but we got our luck back today.

"I thought this was his day – it could be his Derby. He'll get better as the year goes on and he's big enough for next year. He ran here first time and he's improved all year. We'll have to look at Group 1s but he's getting better – he's got to improve to take on the real big ones but he's doing that with every run."

Haatem may have just won a Group 2 but it his stablemate Rosallion, winner of the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, who remains top of the pile.

"We're going to race them tomorrow morning," Hannon joked. "Rosallion might be the best we've had for years but this fella is a quiet achiever. Rosallion is a bit out of the ordinary but this guy is your mate and tries every day."

Reliable Riddiford makes it three

Popular grey Lord Riddiford had won the previous two runnings of the 5f dash that this year opened the meeting and he made it a magnificent hat-trick under Andrea Atzeni with a powerful run down the stands' side rail that belied his eight years.

It was a fourth strike in the race in the last seven years for his trainer John Quinn, who pointed to a combination of factors to explain the veteran's return to form after two below-par efforts at York and Epsom.

Lord Riddiford and Andrea Atzeni win the Coral Handicap at GoodwoodCredit: Mark Cranham

"It's great to see an eight-year-old bounce back, I'm delighted," the trainer said. "It's all there, he just loves this place and cut in the ground is very important to him. We were more than hopeful. 

"He'd been training well at home but I thought it was a better race than the one he won last year, some of the horses brought better form into the race. I thought on the first day and in the first race on the straight track I was happy to be in stall 15 – I think being there when the ground is soft is an advantage." 

Khaadem camp strike gold again

Punters are fast learning not to underestimate outsiders trained by Charlie Hills, owned by Jim and Fitri Hay and ridden by Jamie Spencer as Ancient Rome obliged in the 1m2f handicap.

They were the same connections who won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes with 80-1 chance Khaadem and they were as equally thrilled to see the ex-Andre Fabre-trained Ancient Rome strike at odds of 33-1.

Ancient Rome (near) lands the Chesterfield Cup from Haunted Dream at GoodwoodCredit: Mark Cranham

Hills said: "We've haven't had him long – the last couple of weeks – but he's a very laidback individual, and Jim and Fitri are big supporters of this meeting so the plan was to bring him over and give him a go.

"It's paid off, but Jamie has given him a fantastic ride. The draw [stall 16] didn't look good, but there was only one way to do it and that was to give him a chance and sweep down the middle." 

Breakthrough success

There are worse places to celebrate your second winner than Glorious Goodwood so Diego Dias was understandably delighted when Mansa Musa took the 6f maiden. 

The trainer, who rode in Brazil and Ireland, made a name for himself as a breeze-up specialist before taking out his licence and sending out his first runner in May. Mansa Musa was his first runner in Britain and only his ninth runner overall. 

"We always liked him at home. We knew he would improve for his last run and we feel there's a lot more to come," said Dias. "He moves well and has a great attitude."

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Ten lengths clear after three furlongs and 25 ahead at halfway: how Tom Marquand stole the Goodwood Cup on Quickthorn 

Lennox Stakes: 'You have to get your head in there' - Frankie Dettori pays tribute as game Kinross prevails 

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