Hannon sends out Zoffany stakes winner

Ventura Storm (3c Zoffany-Sarawati, by Haafhd) made the long journey from Richard Hannon’s Wiltshire stable to Scotland pay off when winning in Listed company at Hamilton on Friday night.

The Zoffany colt, who also won the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April, ran out a decisive winner of the EBF Stallions Glasgow Stakes over 1m 3f and could now be a contender for Classic glory in the G1 St Leger.

The Racing Post commented: “This has become a decent springboard for progressive three-year-olds since it was switched from a Derby trial to a mid-July event, with three of the five winners going on to land a Group race - Hunter´s Light and Postponed both scored in Group 1 company. They went just a sensible gallop, with the pace increasing from three furlongs out, and it was not easy making up ground in these conditions..

“VENTURA STORM had faced much stiffer tasks in Group races since landing the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket and he did this well, always in touch and picking up strongly to defy a Listed winner’s penalty. He will doubtless have to revert to Group company now but he will get further and would have to come under consideration for the St Leger.”

Ventura Storm, a 110,000gns breeze-up purchase bred by Laurence Kennedy, races for Middleham Park Racing.