Haatem

“I think James [Doyle] did [when asked who made the decision to aim at the Wolferton]. As much as it pains me to say, he said in France 'Haatem doesn't feel like he has the speed for a mile so let's step up'. He chose this race and, to me, he never looked like getting beaten today. He's just such a lovely horse, a gentleman, whenever he runs there's a lot of love for him in the office, emails and things. He's pleased everybody all the way along the line, especially me. He's in it [the Eclipse] and he'll run very well. Rosallion will go to the Sussex and this horse probably will go to the Eclipse - Richard Hannon, trainer.I was quietly confident, because of how well Haatem relaxes. Then we jumped out the gates from a lowish draw ? I wanted to make sure he jumped good, then I couldn't get him back for the first two, he was fighting me! So then I wasn't completely convinced, but once we got into Swinley Bottom he took a breath and relaxed all the way up to the hill. I had a nice draught into the race, where I didn't have to go looking for gaps. I was a little bit patient. I was lucky, the gaps kind of opened and I didn't really have to come round the horse and he picked up really good. He's tough. Once I got upsides Galen, I knew he would keep fighting, because that's one of the best qualities he has, is he is tough in a fight - James Doyle, jockey.”

“Haatem is a pleasure to have around and I would love to think we will have an association for a few years to come. He deserved his day in the sun and hopefully there will be many more. He was very unlucky in the Woodcote and it was probably my fault because I kept running him over six furlongs. Both Jamie Spencer and James Doyle both said he won't have a problem going to seven furlongs and they were right, again! He carried a 3lb penalty today, he got to the front very easy and I'm just delighted for the horse. It's a Group 3 but I think this Jersey was an awful lot more than it normally is. He has credit for a lot more than that I'm sure a Group 1 is coming very soon - Richard Hannon, trainer.”

“Haatem is a good horse and always has been. He won a Vintage Stakes with a subsequent Champagne Stakes winner behind him and was fifth in a Dewhurst last year. I said to Sean that I thought he'd get the trip very well and it seems to be this week that horses that race handy are winning. I don't think you can say that was an average performance. He looked pretty good there. He has done it on the racecourse and 25-1 seems to be a little bit generous for the Guineas. He and Rosallion do a lot of work together, Rosallion is a horse with an awful lot of speed whereas this horse gets a trip extremely well. Rosallion will get the mile and they both will probably run. We've made no secret about how special we think Rosallion is and this horse surprised me with the manner of his win today. It is nice to have two very good milers on our hands with two very good chances. I think one has an exceptional chance and one now has a better chance than he had before - Richard Hannon, trainer.”

“Haatem is a lovely horse and he deserved that after running so well in the Coventry and the Superlative. He was very unlucky in the Woodcote. I thought this was his day and could be his Derby, but he will get better as the year goes on and he is a horse big enough for next year. He's not about being a two-year-old, he ran here first time and he has improved all year. He is a Group 2 winner now, so obviously we will have to look at Group 1s, but he is getting better - Richard Hannon, trainer.”

“I'm delighted with that, we've always thought a lot of Haatem and he's got a bright future. Next year will probably be his year, he's in a few nice races towards the end of the year, he'll probably be better on a sound surface. He takes his racing very well and physically he's a very nice horse. The winner looks a very good one - Richard Hannon, trainer.”