Paul Hanagan retains full faith in Oaks heroine Taghrooda
Thursday 11 September 2014 10:33, UK
Paul Hanagan has not lost faith in Taghrooda despite her surprise defeat in the Yorkshire Oaks.
The John Gosden-trained filly looked unbeatable heading to York having won the Oaks and the King George but could not hold off Aidan O'Brien's Tapestry.
Taghrooda is still on course to have her final race in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and in a wide-open renewal, Hanagan believes she has a big chance.
He told At The Races: "All is well, she looks great. It's Mr Gosden's job, he's just going to freshen her up and bide his time and see where we go from there but I've heard nothing but good reports.
"The Arc does look open with question marks about a few, but we're just concentrating on ours. As long as she's safe and sound and gets there well, she's something else to look forward to.
"If she's anywhere near her best, the rest have her to fear. I won't lose faith in her after York, even if it comes up soft like it can do, it wouldn't bother me, I'd be going there very confident."
Former Classic-winning jockey Billy Newnes is now a work rider for German trainer Markus Klug and has been closely associated with Sea The Moon throughout his career to date.
While disappointed the colt suffered his first defeat last Sunday, Newnes believes he is capable of improving markedly on his display at Longchamp if he has a trouble-free run up to the race.
"He was very impressive in the Derby when he won by 11 lengths and the second came out and won a Group One and then he had a long lay off," said Newnes.
"He had 10 days after the race doing nothing and he had a few niggly problems. In the last week he only just started to show he was coming back and the race came a little too soon, he ran a cracker.
"Without the niggly problems he'd probably have won six lengths. He has a turn of foot off a strong pace, it wasn't there on Sunday but there were reasons and we were very happy.
"If everything goes right in the next week, and if (Christophe) Soumillon doesn't ride, I'd love to see Frankie (Dettori) on him and then I'd give him a big chance."
