RACING - Curragh Report:ANYONE OFFENDED in these financially-chastened times by the €3.6 million on offer for Ireland's richest race day need not bother asking English trainer Richard Hannon for sympathy as he took away a massive €2.3 million for winning both of the Parknasilla Hotel Goffs Million races at the Curragh yesterday.
Even by the standards already set by the "sales king" in these confined events, it was a special double as the favourite Soul City landed the colts race and then Minor Vamp led home Baileys Cacao for a Hannon one-two in the fillies contest.
"This is what these races are all about, normal people winning big pots," said Richard Hannon Jnr, representing his father, and the family theme continued with Soul City's jockey Richard Hughes who is the winning trainer's son-in-law. Hughes picked wrong in the fillies race and had to look from behind as Michael Kinane guided Minor Vamp to victory.
However, there was little to dampen the feel-good factor among the visitors on a rare sunny afternoon at the Curragh this year and a huge 10,243-strong crowd turned up to trump the 10,000 that attended the inaugural Million day in 2006.
On the same card Sea The Stars advertised his classic claims by beating his stable companion Mourayan in the Group Two Juddmonte Beresford Stakes but in terms of Soul City in particular the Hannon camp don't believe they have a one-hit wonder on their hands.
"He has a lot of scope and he will be a Guineas horse next year. Obviously we're delighted he has won today but it might not be his big day just yet.
"He will be left in the three Guineas races next year and could still run in the Dewhurst this season," Hannon said.
That was enough for some 25 to 1 quotes for next year's English Guineas, although if Soul City lands the Irish Guineas he will be entitled to €1 million bonus. The same applies to the 1,000 Guineas for Minor Vamp who could run next in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.
Sea The Stars is as low as 14 to 1 to emulate his half-brother Galileo in next year's Derby but John Oxx hasn't ruled out the Guineas being his colt's more realistic classic option.
After Kinane guided the horse to a half-length success, Oxx said: "There is a big difference in stamina between Cape Cross and Sadler's Wells so I wouldn't be sure he will get the mile and a half. He will be given a Guineas entry and we won't look at a mile and a quarter without having a look at a mile first."
Baliyana was a Kinane-Oxx favourite in the Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes but quickly faded off the pace and it was Chintz who earned 25 to 1 quotes for next year's Guineas with a smooth defeat of Lahaleeb.
Pasar Silbano mopped up the "mere" €59,000 first prize for the Goffs Sportsman Challenge by going clear under John Murtagh to beat City Dancer and Connie Mac, while the Presidential colours were carried to Cesarewitch success by Suailce, whose trainer Dermot Weld also scored with Le Cadre Noir.
• Aidan O'Brien will target Henrythenavigator at the Breeders' Cup after his defeat in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot by Raven's Pass.
"I don't like to make excuses but the top was coming off the ground and Henry likes it hard," said O'Brien yesterday.
"He will run in either the Mile or the Classic. A lot will depend on what happens with Duke Of Marmalade."
