Hannon’s horses still shine on first day of race action

Hannon and his son-in-law Richard Hughes combined with Eureka and Cai Shen to extend the trainer’s lead at the top of the championship.

With a howling wind blowing up the home straight, Hughes deserves plenty of credit for making just about all the running on both of his winners.

Eureka struck first in the Napoleons Sheffield Conditions Stakes. Sent off at 7-2, having not been beaten too far by stablemate Harbour Watch in the Richmond Stakes, he relished the drop in grade to defeat Gold City by half-a-length.

“He’s made all, which is difficult to do into a headwind,” said the trainer’s son and assistant, Richard Hannon Jr. “He ran well in the Richmond and they couldn’t get by him today.

“Richard said he might make it if no-one else did as we didn’t want a slowly-run race and he probably wants seven furlongs now.

“I don’t know what’s next, he might have a break and be saved for next year.”

Hughes employed similarly bold tactics aboard Cai Shen in the Coopers Marquees Conditions Stakes.

The Julie Wood-owned colt had appeared to have lost his way since finishing second in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot but under a canny ride, the 7-1 shot fended off the challenge of Zeitoper, who was returning from a long absence.

Hughes was narrowly denied a treble in the finale when his mount Eland Ally came second to Paul Midgley-trained and Tom Queally-ridden Haajes (9-1) in the Goffs/DBS St Leger Carnival Sales Handicap.

Frankie Dettori had finished second to Hughes twice on the card but scored a surprise victory on Humidor in the feature Scarbrough Stakes.

Sent off at 14-1, the George Baker-trained four-year-old flew home to beat Dinkum Diamond by half-a-length, with favourite Medicean Man unlucky in third having stumbled out of the stalls.

Kevin Ryan saddled the first two home in the Quattrovali Luxury Wine Champions Handicap, with Lightning Cloud beating Louis The Pious by a head.

John Gosden claimed the St Leger last year and won the first race of this season’s meeting when Ghostwriting (9-2 favourite) took advantage of the wayward The Blue Banana in the Arena Structures Nursery.