Rosallion ticking all the boxes ahead of City of York challenge

Richard Hannon is unconcerned about running Rosallion over seven furlongs for the first time in almost two years in Saturday’s Sky Bet City of York Stakes.

The four-year-old has had to make do with minor honours in each of his three starts this season, with a comeback third in the Lockinge at Newbury followed by narrow defeats in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Having missed a planned trip to France for last weekend’s Prix Jacques le Marois due to a bruised foot, Rosallion has been rerouted to the Knavesmire for what will be his first start over seven furlongs since rounding off his juvenile campaign with victory in the 2023 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Hannon said: “I’m very happy with him, it’s a shame he couldn’t go to France, but he was sound as a bell Sunday morning and conveniently this race comes along at the right time.

“It’s back to seven furlongs, but two of his best performances have been at this distance, in the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

“He’s drawn out wide, but he’ll be clear of trouble there, hopefully, and he will have a great chance. On ratings he’s the best horse in the race and hopefully he will win.”

A Classic and Royal Ascot winner at three to accompany the top honours achieved in France as a juvenile, the timely upgrading of the City of York to Group One status gives Rosallion the chance to become a winner at the highest level aged two, three and four.

Hannon added: “I don’t think there is anybody who I’ve seen while racing who doesn’t think he deserves another Group One win and he’s been a model of consistency all year. Hopefully he gets his reward for it.

“He’s going to be a stallion and it will make a big difference if he can win a Group One at four. He’s already won three Group Ones and is a gentleman of a horse and fingers crossed he can win on Saturday.”

The Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat only ran in the Sussex Stakes as a pacemaker for red-hot favourite Field Of Gold, but clung on by a neck from Rosallion to cause a 150-1 upset.

He gets the chance to prove that success was no fluke, having been supplemented earlier this week.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: “Seven furlongs, a mile, it all comes alike to him and this race looks a good fit, so we’re looking forward to seeing him run.

“It’s going to be good, fast summer ground which he handles well.

“Obviously the Clipper Handicap was out after Goodwood and with this being the first year of it being a Group One, it’s nice to be able to compete in it.”

Never So Brave has has won two of his three starts since joining Andrew Balding from the retiring Sir Michael Stoute, following up an emphatic Royal Ascot success in the Buckingham Palace Stakes with a Group Two win at the Berkshire track in last month’s Summer Mile.

On dropping back in trip, Balding said: “He looked very good at Ascot over seven furlongs in the Buckingham Palace – he was carrying top-weight and put in a really good performance there.

“I think it comes alike to him. Winning a Group Two at a mile suggests he does stay that as well. As long as we’re in the same form as we were for the last two starts he deserves a crack at this race.”

Maranoa Charlie may be trained in France by Christopher Head but he carries the colours of locally-based owners the Bond family, who snapped him up prior to his close-up second to Woodshauna in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.

The Bond Thoroughbred team is led by Charlie Bond, who said: “It’s fantastic to be running in a Group One at York, it’s obviously our local track. It looks like we’ve got a decent draw (stall four) and Christopher is very happy with him, which is the main thing.

“He had good form in France before we bought him, winning three Group Threes, and he ran a fantastic race for us last time.

“We’ll take them all on over this trip, we’re not concerned about the ground and neither is Christopher.”

Other contenders include the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest and Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven, who gave his owners – which include several Brighton & Hove Albion footballers – a huge thrill when landing the Group Three Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood three weeks ago.

Palmer said: “He’s got some very enthusiastic owners and they’re playing with house money – he won more than the supplementary fee at Goodwood. We’re not protecting a stallion career with him so we thought why not have a go.

“When we decided to do it we probably weren’t banking on Rosallion being there, but even still, take him out and I think we’re right there with them in the run.”