Tag Archive for: Mojo Star

Hannon anticipating retirement for recovering Mojo Star

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Mojo Star, who sustained an injury when making his return to action at Newbury last month, is on the mend but looks set to be retired from racing.

The Richard Hannon-trained Classic and Ascot Gold Cup runner-up finished lame when fourth to Grand Alliance in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury.

The five-year-old, who was second in Adayar’s Derby and occupied the same spot behind Hurricane Lane in the St Leger before finding only Kyprios too good in last year’s Gold Cup, was making his seasonal return after a 310-day lay-off.

His injury was not life-threatening and after being treated by vet Jamie O’Gorman, the son of Sea The Stars looks primed to enjoy stallion duties after a nine-race career that has seen him earn just shy of £543,000 in prize=money.

“He is back here now, but I would say he probably won’t race again,” said the East Everleigh handler.

“He’s always had issues with his joints and he’s quite a heavy horse who has always had problems all his life.

“He’s back home now though, although I would say he is doubtful to race again. I think he will go back to Ireland, where they will get him a job as a stallion.

“He was second in three massive races, the Derby, the Leger and in the Gold Cup. He’s still here and he’ll enjoy life, which is the most important thing.”

Meanwhile, Hannon’s hopes that Mammas Girl would keep her unbeaten record in the Qipco 1000 Guineas were dashed when she finished 16 lengths behind Mawj at Newmarket on Sunday.

Winner of a seven-furlong novice at the same track in October, the daughter of Havana Grey landed the Group Three Nell Gwyn on her first start as a three-year-old.

Mammas Girl found the ground against her in the Guineas
Mammas Girl found the ground against her in the Guineas (Tim Goode/PA)

However, having raced prominently in the early stages in the mile fillies’ Classic, she weakened late on under Kevin Stott in very soft ground, eventually finishing 11th of the 20 runners.

Hannon said: “Mammas Girl is fine. The ground was shocking really, but that’s nobody’s fault.

“She will show her true self, probably at Royal Ascot in the Coronation on fast ground and hopefully she will run much better.”



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Mojo Star racing career could be over after finishing lame at Newbury

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Mojo Star – runner-up in two Classics and the Ascot Gold Cup for Richard Hannon – could be retired after he finished lame in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The five-year-old, who was second in Adayar’s Derby and occupied the same spot behind Hurricane Lane in the St Leger before finding only Kyprios too good in last year’s Gold Cup, was making his seasonal return after a 310-day lay-off.

The lightly-raced son of Sea The Stars was fourth to surprise winner Grand Alliance in the Group Three contest registered as the John Porter.

However, Kevin Stott’s mount, owned by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, hung in the closing stages and was taken to a nearby veterinary hospital in a horse ambulance.

Hannon said: “He came in lame and has gone straight to the vets in Newbury to Jamie O’Gorman.

Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup
Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

“He has a bit of a history, so that’s why he doesn’t run too often.

“That’s all we know at the moment – he was lame and it doesn’t look great. But he is a horse who has been a big part of our lives for five years.

“He is a class horse. He is a gentleman and also a horse very close to his owner’s heart. He is in the best place and he’ll be fine.

“Whether he continues his racing career or not, is probably doubtful. He has given us several great days and has been a pleasure to have about.

“He’ll be OK. But he is so generous. He travelled great and then he started hanging and he thinks that’s when it happened. I would think it might be suspensory, but he has such a big heart the horse he’s run right to the line. That’s why we all love him.

“He is a very special horse.”



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Grand Alliance powers clear for deserved big-race prize

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Grand Alliance finally landed the prize his undoubted talent hinted he was capable of when causing an upset in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained four-year-old finished 11th in the Derby behind Desert Crown last year, and subsequently looked like winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot only to hang badly left and lose out in a photo.

Gelded last autumn, he shaped with promise when third to Max Vega in the St Simon Stakes and over the same course and distance in a Group Three registered as the John Porter he turned the form around with that rival in no uncertain terms.

Sent off an 18-1 chance under birthday boy James Doyle, Grand Alliance seemed to relish the soft ground and while the likes of Hurricane Lane and Mojo Star – first and second in the 2021 St Leger – were all at sea in the straight, the winner scooted clear.

There were still signs of his temperament, veering away sharply to his left inside the final furlong, but thankfully he had the race won by then.

The outsider of the field, Farhan, on just his second start for Phil Kirby, ran on to be second, beaten two and a quarter lengths.

Fellowes: “He has done that to a pretty decent field. I know that two outsiders finished first and second, but they were a good bunch and he has done it pretty handily in the end. I don’t think he was doing a huge amount out in front.

“I know he has a Yorkshire Cup entry, but James said afterwards he wouldn’t be jumping to step up further in trip, so I think I need to have a sit down and talk to the owner (Paul Roy) and make a plan.

“He was on and off the bridle, but that’s him. He has got a lot better than he was last year. He was particularly quirky last year and he’s settled down a lot.

“I’ve been delighted with him over the winter and, walking around the paddock, I thought he’d done really well physically. I don’t know why watching him go round with a saddle on made me see how well he had done, but he looked fantastic.

“I think he goes on any ground. It was rattling quick when he threw that race away at Ascot.”

Grand Alliance poses for the camera
Grand Alliance poses for the camera (PA)

Doyle added: “He was on and off the bridle, but that is always what he has done. He has always hinted he has been pretty good.

“Arguably he should have won at Royal Ascot last year, but he just hung across the track.

“He is very versatile ground-wise, it is amazing when you look at him – as he’s got such small feet – that he does go on this type of heavy ground.

“He does go on fast ground, so hopefully we can have a bit of fun with him.

“On better ground he could possibly go up to a Yorkshire Cup trip, but on testing ground like it is today, I think this trip is about right. It felt like a long last furlong.”



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Hurricane Lane hits comeback trail at Newbury

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Charlie Appleby is banking on Hurricane Lane returning to something like the form he showed as a three-year-old on his return to action in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury.

Winner of the Irish Derby and St Leger in 2021 when he also finished a close third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, last season was something of a write-off.

Beaten at odds-on twice, in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot and in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, he was one horse certainly not suited by the heatwave given his liking for softer ground.

With Newbury set to be pretty testing this weekend, Appleby is happy to start a campaign which he once more hopes will culminate in Paris in October.

Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick celebrate winning the St Leger with Hurricane Lane
Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick celebrate winning the St Leger with Hurricane Lane (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He has been a grand horse for Godolphin, and we feel he should be able to pick up another major prize this year,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

“With his programme, we are working back from the Arc, that’s our main aim. He revels in soft ground and there is a good chance he could get those conditions at Longchamp in October.

“You cannot fault the horse at home. He retains all his old zest and he looks great. We will know early in his five-year-old campaign whether or not the Arc is a realistic target.”

Max Vega won the race 12 months ago for Ralph Beckett and he is back to defend his title, along with a new stablemate, Lone Eagle.

“Both he and Lone Eagle are going to find it tough if the real Hurricane Lane is going to turn up. But he should run his race as normal. He is in good shape,” said Beckett.

There was not much between Lone Eagle (left) and Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby of 2021
There was not much between Lone Eagle (left) and Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby of 2021 (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Lone Eagle was a classy three-year-old himself and made Hurricane Lane pull out all the stops in the Irish Derby when trained by Martyn Meade.

He is now part-owned by Marc Chan, meaning Frankie Dettori takes the ride. Beckett also runs the fancied Jimmi Hendrix in the BetGoodwin Spring Cup and both are sporting blinkers for the first time.

Beckett said: “Lone Eagle is new to us and I think the first-time headgear will be of some benefit, and likewise Jimi Hendrix on a comeback mission in the Spring Cup – the headgear there, I think we should have pulled the trigger earlier, but that’s down to his trainer!”

Richard Hannon’s Mojo Star is undoubtedly talented, as he showed when finishing second in both the Derby and St Leger at three.

He only made it to the track once last season but it was another massive effort as he was second to Kyprios in the Gold Cup at Ascot, beaten just half a length.

“He has always been a very good colt but has had a few niggly issues which have kept him off the track and hasn’t run since putting up a brilliant effort when second in the Gold Cup,” Hannon told Unibet.

“He’s done plenty of work and been away to gallop so should be pretty straight. But this is his first run in a while, so he’s entitled to improve for it and we’re working back from the Ascot Gold Cup. I’m very happy with him and while the trip is on the short side, this is a good place to kick off his season.”

Mojo Star was a fine second to Kyprios at Ascot
Mojo Star was a fine second to Kyprios at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Another who will not be inconvenienced by the ground is Surrey Mist, who has the benefit of already having had a run this season when fourth in a French Group Three.

Clive Hadingham of owners Surrey Racing said: “We could do with a bit more rain, which will hopefully test the fitness of the main protagonists as we already have one run under our belt this season.

“Having said that, it’s a very competitive race – we may have to get creative with our tactics!”



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Newbury reappearance possible for Mojo Star

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Richard Hannon’s Mojo Star could make his reappearance in what is shaping up to be a high-class Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Runner-up in both the Derby and St Leger during his Classic season, he has been off the track since finishing second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last year – his sole start at four.

He was due to return in the Further Flights Stakes at Nottingham last week, but having skipped that Colwick Park assignment on account of deteriorating ground, the Amo Racing-owned five-year-old could begin his march back to the Royal meeting in this 12-furlong Group Three.

“We did want to start him off at Nottingham, but I think we saw there with Trueshan getting beat and how bad the ground was, we made the right decision to not go there – we were happy to swerve that one,” said Tom Pennington, Amo’s racing and operations manager.

A maximum of 11 will go to post for the race better known as the John Porter and other notable names amongst the possibles include Charlie Appleby’s pair of Yibir and Hurricane Lane.

The latter accounted for Mojo Star when scooping Classic honours at Doncaster as a three-year-old, but Pennington is keen to point out that Amo’s son of Sea The Stars is a top operator in his own right and will always be facing off against stiff opposition.

He continued: “We’ve got to start somewhere and he’s that good of a horse, operating at a high level, that we’re always going to bump into one or two and we can’t be afraid of anyone.

Former St Leger winner Hurricane Lane is a possible for the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury
Former St Leger winner Hurricane Lane is a possible for the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Richard’s happy with him and as I’ve said before, this is a stepping stone to Royal Ascot and the Gold Cup and then those nice staying targets in the summer.

“We just need to get a run under his belt now. He’s been off the track for over 300 days and we just need to get the cobwebs blown away and get him back on track.”

Owners Godolphin are again well represented amongst the 22 entries for the Dubai Duty Free Stakes – also known as the Fred Darling – where Appleby’s Fairy Cross and John and Thady Gosden’s Bridestones will put their 1000 Guineas aspirations to the test.

Amo Racing are also double-handed in the race with Olivia Maralda potentially making her debut for Roger Varian and Magical Sunset bidding to build on an impressive course-and-distance success in the Radley Stakes in her final start at two.

Magical Sunset struck Listed gold at Newbury
Magical Sunset struck Listed gold at Newbury (Neil Morrice/PA)

“Olivia Maralda has been working well for Roger and he has been very pleased with her,” added Pennington.

“This has been her target all along but if that rain materialised Thursday/Friday, I would be worried because it is already soft, heavy in places now. She wouldn’t want it that extreme I wouldn’t think, so we’ll have to assess that nearer the time.

“Magical Sunset loves that ground – it was heavy when she won the Radley Stakes and she seems to thrive on it. She is a much better filly on it, so it will be a nice starting point for her.”

Of the remainder, Lowther Stakes one-two Swingalong (Karl Burke) and Queen Me (Kevin Ryan) could make the trip down from Yorkshire, with Small Oasis a possible Irish raider for Jessica Harrington.



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Amo Racing team looking to Mojo to be staying Star

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Mojo Star is reported to be in rude health as connections begin to plot a route back to the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Richard Hannon’s charge might have won only one of his eight starts to date, but proved himself a top-notch three-year-old by finishing second in both the Derby and the St Leger two seasons ago and split Kyprios and Stradivarius when filling the runner-up spot in the Gold Cup last summer.

That proved to be Mojo Star’s first and last start of 2022, but he is back in full work ahead of the new campaign and could be back on a racecourse within a matter of weeks.

Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager for owners Amo Racing, said: “I saw Mojo Star last week and he looks fantastic. He’s working away and, touch wood, he’s sound and in great form.

“He’s moving well and Richard couldn’t be happier with him at the moment, so hopefully it’s going to be an exciting season for him.”

With Aidan O’Brien recently revealing Kyprios is a major doubt to defend his Gold Cup crown following a setback and Stradivarius retired, the staying division appears wide open.

Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup
Mojo Star has a drink of water after the Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

Pennington added: “You hate to see horses like Kyprios falling away as while it obviously makes it easier for us, you want to beat those horses on merit.

“We monitor Mojo Star on a daily basis, but at the moment he’s going fantastic, he looks a picture and hasn’t missed a day.

“We have made a few plans, but the dream would be to go to Ascot and have another go at the Gold Cup.

“There’s lots of options (for a run before then), including the Further Flight at Nottingham in a couple of weeks over a mile and six (furlongs) in soft ground. You’ve got to remember he’s only a maiden winner, so he wouldn’t carry a penalty in a race like that.”



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