Richard Hannon sets Haatem the task of winning first Group One race in France at the Jacques Le Marois – as he insists the Wathnan Racing horse hasn’t ‘had the respect he deserves’

Richard Hannon has set Haatem the challenge of winning his first Group One in France after Wathnan Racing decided to sidestep a showdown with Rosallion.

Haatem has become a flagbearer for the Emir Of Qatar’s rapidly expanding operation and paid back a chunk of the £3million that was spent on buying him when winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

That success was the least Haatem deserved after finishing third in the 2000 Guineas then second in the Irish equivalent behind stablemate Rosallion, who has been targeted at next week’s Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood since he won the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Hannon will have no qualms about running Haatem and Rosallion, who is owned by Sheikh Mohamed Obaid al-Maktoum, against each other again in the future but his immediate objective is to win the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 11.

‘He has been a really pleasant surprise for us with his ability and his soundness and his toughness,’ said Hannon after watching both horses at his Herridge base in Wiltshire. ‘Haatem was underrated last year and I don’t think he’s had the respect he deserves this year. He’s exceeded expectations.

Haatem’s immediate objective is to win the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 11

‘He is so consistent and he is a gentleman, a pleasure to have around. A Group One will surely come his way and hopefully it will be the Jacques La Marois. But, if it’s not, there are a lot of lovely races for him this year and next. You can take him to any big race in the world and he’ll run well.

‘He is extremely talented and he’s been well bought. It was a big day when he won at Ascot.’

The same was true for Rosallion, who is the season’s leading miler. Hannon’s enthusiasm for the colt is infectious and the clash he has with Henry Longfellow, trained by Aidan O’Brien, on the Downs next Wednesday is likely to be one of the races of the flat season.

‘This fella is probably everything you could ever dream of,’ said Hannon, during a stable visit organised by Goodwood Racecourse. ‘My dad (Richard) might disagree but I think Rosallion is the best miler we have had and certainly the best since Canford Cliffs. Time will tell whether he is better.

‘To run down Aidan’s horse at Ascot was impressive – he picked up a horse which got first run on him – but his late challenges have not been by design. He needed to get out a few strides before he did but, if you have enough horse, you can pretty much get out of anywhere.’