Rosallion reels in stablemate Haatem in Irish 2,000 Guineas

Odds-on favorite Rosallion surged from mid-pack with a wide, closing run down the stretch to edge Haatem by a head Saturday, giving trainer Richard Hannon the exacta in the Group 1, US$499,321 Irish 2,000 Guineas.

The two colts finished in the same order behind 16-1 upset winner Notable Speech three weeks ago in England’s 2,000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket. That Charlie Appleby-trained victor was not in Saturday’s race at the Curragh.

“Standing in the second and third places in the paddock at Newmarket was utterly galling,” Hannon said on Racing TV. “This more than makes up for it. It’s the icing on the cake.”

Jamie Spencer rode Haatem (6-1) to the lead and looked every bit a winner until Rosallion (3-5) found a decisive turn of foot under Sean Levey, taking the lead in the last four strides of the one-mile turf race.

River Tiber (5-2) finished another 1 1/4 lengths up the track to get third place. Unquestionable (7-1), one of the three entrants trained by 12-time Guineas winner Aidan O’Brien, was a distant fourth in the field of eight 3-year-olds colts, each of whom carried 128 pounds.

The winning time without a run-up on good going was 1:39.20, the fastest for the race since Siskin’s victory in the COVID-delayed June 2020 renewal.

A Sheikh Mohammed Obaid homebred by Ireland stallion Blue Point, Rosallion is a two-time Group 1 winner. He also finished first in the Prix LaGardère in October at ParisLongchamp.

Rosallion, Haatem and Notable Speech could be rematched next month in the St James’s Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot.