Richard Hannon has decided to end Rosallion's season early, with the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot now set as his primary target for 2025.
Rosallion, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes, was being prepared for a high-profile clash in the Sussex Stakes against Notable Speech and Henry Longfellow. However, a respiratory infection forced him to miss the race, and although Hannon had considered the possibility of another run this year, it has been decided to curtail his season.
Hannon shared his thoughts on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast: "I think it’s the right decision not to run him again this year. He’s achieved a lot and has nothing left to prove. He wasn’t in good shape for Goodwood and would have performed poorly. He had a lung infection, and after a course of antibiotics, he was fit again after three weeks. But with the ground conditions changing, it makes sense to focus on next year."
With a promising colt like Rosallion, Hannon is eyeing the major mile races for 2025. "His first big race will be the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot," Hannon said. "There’s also the Lockinge, possibly the Sussex, and maybe the Breeders’ Cup later in the year."
Hannon confirmed, "He will definitely stay in training next year. He’s a dream horse and a pleasure to have. Given his long break and his tendency to get quite big, he’ll need plenty of work. Champions Day usually features very soft ground, and I wouldn’t want to end the season on a low note. I’d prefer to see the winter fly by and look forward to another successful campaign, considering he’s a St James’s Palace and Irish Guineas winner."