Hannon aims to take Major step to Royal Ascot at Haydock

May 31 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

RICHARD HANNON is looking for Major Cadeaux to use Haydock Park and the JW Lees Stakes as the stepping stone to Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old colt bids to follow up his impressive victory at Sandown in the Group Three feature of Haydock’s six-race card today.

The Cadeaux Genereux colt was sixth in last year’s 2,000 Guineas and scored in fine style in the Group Two bet365 Mile last month over a mile.

He drops back to seven furlongs today and will have to carry a 5lb penalty for that Group Two win. But Hannon feels the drop in trip will suit and is eyeing the Golden Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs at the Royal meeting next month.

Hannon said: “He’s in great form but I hope it is raining up there. It is certainly raining in the south but I’m not sure about the north.

“I’d like to run him before possibly having a look at the big sprint at Royal Ascot (Golden Jubilee). But he doesn’t want it too quick at the weekend.”

Major Cadeaux will face course and distance winner Appalachian Trail among his nine rivals. As well as the JW Lees Stakes, Haydock’s top-class card also features the Listed Timeform Silver Salver for Fillies and Mares.

Meanwhile Merseyside jockey Martin Dwyer returns to the saddle after an ankle injury on the gallops kept him out for two weeks.

He has six rides at Doncaster with the progressive Ezdiyaad, if he runs, arguably his best chance of a winner.

The 32-year-old, though, is already looking ahead to next Friday’s Juddmonte Oaks when he will partner the unbeaten Saphira’s Fire, who is trained by his father-in-law Willie Muir.

Dwyer was on board when the three-year-old filly won the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month and he also partnered her in a work-out at Epsom at Thursday’s annual ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ event.

Saphira’s Fire is not among the 25 entries for the Fillies’ Classic, but connections are expected to fork out the £20,000 supplementary fee to add the Cape Cross filly to the field early next week.

Dwyer, who won the Oaks on Casual Look in 2004 and was second on Peeping Fawn 12 months ago, said: “We were very pleased with her. We achieved what we set out to do on Thursday. We gave her a look at the track and she came down the hill very well. That is always important. You need to handle the hill and the bend at Epsom.

“It is a big step up, but she won her Oaks trial at Newmarket very well. She has run twice and won both times, but she has got a lot more improvement in her.

“Saphira’s Fire hasn’t shown the same level of form as some in the race, but I think she has got the right attributes. We won’t know if she is good enough until we try, but we are hopeful.”

HAYDOCK PREDICTIONS: 2.10pm Tajdeef 2.45pm Aine 3.15pm Appalachian Trail 3.50pm Mesyaal 4.20pm Greenwich Meantime 4.55pm William Blake.

WEEKEND NAPS: TODAY: Mister Right (8.30pm Newbury). TOMORROW: Rain Stops Play (4.10pm Bath).