‘We Can Only Dream’ – Harrington Outlines Plans For Hotazhell, Green Impact And More

[Wandering Eyes]

Jessica Harrington has described Classic contenders Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) as two of the most exciting colts that she has had to look forward to for some time and revealed that the latter would get his campaign underway in a 2,000 Guineas–but the legendary trainer hasn't decided whether she will go to England, Ireland or France. 

While Hotazhell is viewed as a Guineas prospect, Harrington admitted that she is “dreaming” that Green Impact can develop into a Derby horse this season. Owned and bred by Marc Chan, Green Impact won two of his three starts as a juvenile, and signed off on his campaign with victory over Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

Meanwhile, Hotazhell accounted for that same Aidan O'Brien-trained rival when running out a gritty winner of the G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. 

Harrington said, “We're very happy with Hotazhell. He's done very well–has put on weight, developed nicely and is doing everything right in his work at home. Couldn't be happier, really.

“To be honest, he's in the English, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas, but we haven't made a call about what route we're going to take. The only thing that does look likely is that he would start off in a Guineas and skip running in a trial. He has a great attitude and always showed us that. I mean, he was unlucky to get beaten first time out at Leopardstown last year and it probably was the making of him as he was very good with how he carried on improving right throughout the season. Considering he was a breeze-up horse, he did an awful lot last year, and we're hoping there is even more to come.”

Hotazhell was snapped up for just 200,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale last year. He was consigned by Eddie Linehan's Lackendara Stables and is the second high-class horse that Harrington has trained on behalf of the US-based Silverton Hill Partnership, who famously owned the 2010 G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner Pathfork (Distant Humour).

Hotazhell | Racingfotos.com

“We always buy a few breeze-up horses every year. We never come away with big numbers–three, four or five at the most–every year and it has been a very lucky place to shop for us.”

She continued, “With Green Impact, he has the option of running in a Guineas but he is a proper mile-and-a-quarter or even a mile-and-a-half horse. I am hoping that Hotazhell would get a mile-and-a-quarter.”

Asked if Green Impact could be a Derby horse, Harrington replied, “It's a long, long way away at the moment but we can only dream that he is. They are two very exciting colts to have in the yard–as exciting as we've had in a long time.”

Hotazhell is as big as 25-1 in places for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket while Green Impact is available at 50-1 for the Derby. But it isn't all about those two colts in the Harrington camp this season, with the trainer revealing that she has some nice under-the-radar three-year-olds to go with an exciting batch of juveniles.

“Norwalk Havoc (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) is an older horse I'm looking forward to. He is a soft ground horse and we know that now so it makes it easy for us going forward. The Calyx (GB) filly, Barnavara (Ire), is one we're excited about in the three-year-old fillies division and we also have Kodilicious (Ire), the Kodi Bear filly who finished second in a Listed race on her final start at two. The two of those are lovely fillies but we have a few very nice unraced ones as well. Diamond Exchange (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) had one run when sixth in the Goffs Million and she's very exciting–a stayling filly going forward. We have a very nice Sea The Stars (Ire) colt who is owned by Newtown Anner that never ran last year, either, and he's very nice.”

Harrington added, “We seem to have a lovely bunch of two-year-olds as well. We have a good few in so far and they seem to be very nice. Because we had some good two-year-olds last year, we seem to have been sent some better pedigrees this year. We say it every year, that the yearling sales were difficult to shop at, and that's only because we want to buy at one price and the sellers want to sell at another! But we are happy with what we have and are looking forward to the season ahead.”

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