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Smart an understatement for Wexford mare
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NZ Racing and Breeding News – 09 November 2025
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Young trainer Stephen Hanlon saddled his first winner when Diggin Deep won a handicap hurdle at Musselburgh in November 2018, but his name had been absent from racecards in recent years after the Covid-19 pandemic delayed his plans to enter the training ranks in a full-time capacity. That was until January this year when Hanlon sent out his first runners as the licence holder at Sun Hill Farm in Leyburn, with Azucena providing the breakthrough in this second phase of the trainer's career when successful at Newcastle on January 13. Now, Hanlon reveals his big plans for the future as the latest person to face the TDN question master. How did you first become involved in racing? I found my way into racing through my father and my uncle. They were friendly with the late Frank Ennis, who trained around 25 horses on the Curragh. My father got me a job with Frank in 2007 and that's how I started, really. Initially, I had aspirations to be a jockey, but I grew too tall and got heavy. I realised then that it just wasn't going to be possible, so I changed course very quickly and had my sights set on training from then on. You're now training from Sun Hill Farm in Leyburn following the retirement of Ann Duffield. Can you tell us a bit about how that opportunity came about? I was starting to pull together a small team of horses and I based them with Harry Whittington between Lambourn and Wantage while I was trying to find a yard. Harry knew Ann Duffield and that she wanted to retire. Harry suggested that I give Ann a call and I discussed with Ann what I would like to do. Ann invited me to Sun Hill to have a look around and it went forward from there, really. Ann confirmed that it was her plan to retire at the end of last year. We agreed that I should take on the role as assistant trainer, so that I could get an idea of how Sun Hill works and to get to know the facilities. I very much enjoyed the role working with good people. When Ann and I had discussed the idea of taking over the licence, I then felt that any step other than going training at that point would have been a step backwards. Ann has enjoyed a long and successful career in her own right and is an incredibly astute businesswoman. She and her owners have been very supportive with advice and guidance as we transferred the business over into my name. I'd like to think that has prepared me well for what I am trying to achieve now. I worked with Ann as her assistant for six months from June to December last year. It is a fantastic place, a purpose-built yard with wonderful facilities. I'm very grateful to Ann and George for the opportunity that they have afforded me. How many horses do you have in training? We have 32 horses in training at present, with the capacity to train 70 plus, so I will be predominantly focusing on growing the business numerically in 2026. In turn, I wish to attract some more good owners, which is the most important factor for sustainable growth. Throughout my time in the industry, I have built good relationships with some fantastic owners, who really understand racing and without whom it would not have been possible for us to start training. It was great to hit the ground running so early with a winner [Azucena at Newcastle on January 13] on our first day with runners. I have an amazing team ensuring that the horses continue in good form as we prepare for the turf season. What was your defining memory of 2025? While it was always my ambition to train, there comes a point when you have to set the wheels in motion, so I suppose the defining moment was making that decision to set out on my own path in 2025 after four seasons with Ralph Beckett. Ralph was extremely helpful with advice and guidance. He had known for quite a while that I wanted to train, so I had plenty of conversations with Ralph about what my plans were. What motivates you? Success. What keeps you awake at night? I sleep very well, as long as I know I've done my job to the best of my ability and acted in the best interests of my horses, owners and staff at all times. You can rest assured that I won't lose much sleep worrying about matters beyond my control. What is your biggest regret? I don't have any regrets. All life experiences, both good and bad, have led me to where I am now. I am 31 now and the most important lesson that I have learned to date is that time is your most valuable asset in life. Everyone gets the same 24 hours, but how you invest it is the true secret to success. Give us an underrated sire to keep the right side of in 2026… I think Phil Cunningham's Rajasinghe is outstanding value and massively underrated and underutilised as a sire. People forget he broke the track record at Royal Ascot when he won the Coventry, which still stands. We've just recently seen Aisling Oscar do the magnificent seven consecutive wins in handicaps – something that hasn't been done for over 30 years. I would like to see him get some better quality mares to cover, because I'm adamant that he can hold his own in producing black-type performers. And a horse to follow on the racecourse in 2026… Royal Fixation looks the type of filly who will improve from two to three. She was impressive in winning the Lowther last year and followed it up with a solid performance in the Cheveley Park. She has subsequently been moved to Karl Burke in Middleham who excels with fillies of her profile. I would expect to see her being competitive at the top level in 2026. Tell us something that people don't know about Stephen Hanlon… Many people assume because of my surname that I am related to Shark Hanlon. I have no family relations to Shark Hanlon! Who is your inspiration? There is nobody in this world than can truly inspire you. I think that is something that can only come from within – you have to want to do better, to want to succeed, and to want to perform to the very peak of your ability. I think the intense level of drive that is required to be successful is either in a person or it's not. I believe the most influential and successful people in history, in any capacity, were all self inspired. However, I do have admiration for the trainers I have worked for – Willie Mullins, Dessie Hughes and Ralph Beckett – all exceptionally talented people who would have achieved huge success in whatever they channelled their brainpower into. For me, Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute and Vincent O Brien are the three greatest trainers that this sport has ever produced. They had something very, very different – a natural gift from God and a genius touch with horses. What has been the proudest moment of your career to date? I don't have a standout proudest moment. I continually take personal satisfaction from doing anything to the best of my ability, win, lose or draw, whether in a professional or personal capacity. I derive huge satisfaction from achieving the best possible outcome for the team of horses, owners and staff that I am building around me. It's hugely important to be working with the right people and I'm very lucky to have good people around me. The post In The Hot Seat: Stephen Hanlon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
Might be awkward finding another suitable date with Wingatui then Ascot Park, if I were the powers that be I'd run them in March at the Wyndham meeting, maybe another day later on from that maybe in May or just have one day scrubbed. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Classy galloper Patch Of Theta returned to winning ways with a game performance to defy joint top weight of 135lb in the Class One Mirs Bay Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Last seen in a winning mood when landing the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) 13 months ago, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained galloper made good on a gilt-edged opportunity despite the weight burden. Travelling midfield in the six-runner affair under Hugh Bowman, Patch Of Theta travelled up well and was...View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
John Size continued his classic midseason march up the trainers’ championship table with a treble at Sha Tin, headlined by Super Express’ brilliant win in the Class Three Yan Chau Tong Handicap (1,400m). By his own admission, it has been a slow campaign thus far for the reigning champion trainer, but he was always going to get his skates on as winter loomed and another three-timer has seen him jump up to fifth in the table. It has left Size just 10 winners off the current leader Mark Newnham and...View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Little Paradise emerged from an almost impossible position to stamp himself as a rising star of Hong Kong racing with a breathtaking victory in Sunday’s Classic Mile at Sha Tin. Held up for clear running from the top of the straight until the 250m, the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained gelding was hooked to the centre of the track by Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and unleashed a blistering turn of foot to soar past his rivals in the blink of an eye. In a testament to his class, Little Paradise romped in by two...View the full article
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