Darley Stakes next on agenda for Haatem after American success

Newmarket’s Darley Stakes is next on Haatem’s agenda after providing trainer Richard Hannon with his first American success earlier this month.

A dual winner at Royal Ascot having won the Jersey Stakes in 2024 and the Wolferton Stakes last year, the Wathnan Racing-owned five-year-old claimed the most lucrative victory of his career to date in the Grade Three Mint Millions Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs a fortnight ago.

Haatem will now bid for a first win of the year on home soil in Group Three company on the Rowley Mile on October 10.

Speaking on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme, Hannon said: “It was great to break new ground and have a winner over in the States. It was my first American winner, my dad (Richard Hannon senior) didn’t have one and it was kind of a monkey off our back.

“I’m delighted that horse could do it because he’s a very special horse and it’s typical of him to do that. We had a big welcome back for him and he was (already) a special horse after his two wins at Royal Ascot over different trips – he can pretty much do anything.”

Haatem looks set for another trip across the Atlantic before the year is out, with Hannon adding: “We’re looking at the Darley Stakes now at Newmarket and then probably the Man o’War Stakes at Belmont.

“I didn’t actually go (to Kentucky Downs), which kind of tempts me not to go back, but it was great and we have got some more (American runners) in the pipeline – Persica might go to the Man o’War as well and Dover Street and Pershaada might go to the Breeders’ Cup.”