NEWS: RACING

Pricey yearling Fannaan now an undefeated juvenile in the UK for Sheikh Hamdan

Thursday, October 23rd, 2014
By Sarah Mace

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Fannaan, a son of Speightstown bred in New York by Waterville Lake Stables Ltd LLC and foaled at Doug Koch’s Berkshire Stud, has made good so far on his $350,000 price tag as a Keeneland September yearling by chalking up two comfortable victories to begin his young career, scoring his second tally at Newmarket on October 22.

Trained by John Gosden, Fannaan won his six-furlong unveiling at Haydock on September 26 by 3 1/2 lengths. On Wednesday, stretching out to seven furlongs over soft turf, he looked comfortable every step of the way as he led the three-horse field, which included the Listed Washington Singer S. runner-up, from start to finish before crossing the finish line a 1 1/2 length winner in a final time of 1:27.55. [VIDEO via TDN, courtesy Racing UK]

Gosden told the Newmarket Journal, “He is a very good horse. He came in early to me from Dubai and was meant to be an Ascot two-year old but he rubbed a foot boarding a plane.”

Continued Gosden, “He had his ears pricked today and was relaxed while in front. He will be better on better ground. The only disappointment was the horse in behind (Hawkesbury) struck into him.”

As to the future, the conditioner said, “We will see how he is in the spring but he is a miler and you would look at the Classic trial races next year.”

Purchased at Keeneland by Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. from Don Robinson’s Winter Quarter Farm consignment, Fannaan is the third foal, and first colt, produced by Titian Time, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Red Ransom out of British-bred Timely.

Titian Time, who raced in England, France, Ireland and the United States, was Group 1 stakes placed in England at two, the highweighted filly that year on the English Free Hand and a course record-setter at six furlongs on the inner turf at Belmont in 2005. Purchased by Don Robinson on behalf of Waterville Lake Stables for $475,000 at the 2007 Keeneland November sale, Titian Time is a full-sister to Shining Hour, a Group 3 winner and producer of a stakes performer.

Leave a Reply