HANNON FARRIERS DOUBLE UP

Congratulations to Robert Newman, with Mark Hewlett and Richard Alford (right) and Andy Ford (left) - farriers to Champion Flat trainer Richard Hannon - who have won the Victory Magnum for the second year in a row.

The Victory Magnum is awarded by Atlantic Equine Ltd to the farriers plating the most Group One winners in Victory racing plates in a season.

For 2011, Canford Cliffs was again their flag-bearer, with two wins - in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, beating, in the latter race, the great French mare, Goldikova.

Sadly, Canford Cliffs had to be retired with an injury after running a brave second to the mighty Frankel in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The magnums were presented by Tony Lindsell of Atlantic Equine Ltd.

Throughout the season, the Hannon yard was in relentless form and successfully beat off the challenges of Aidan O'Brien, John Gosden and Sir Henry Cecil.

In winning the Magnum for the second year in a row, the four farriers fulfilled their promise of a year ago - to defend their title successfully. "I told you last year we'd do the double," said Mark Hewlett. "Now for the hat-trick!"

They have plenty of horsepower for the task with 140 yearlings coming into the Hannon yard in November. In shoeing the yearlings, the farriers are assisted by Dan Pinhorn, shown on the left in the photo below, who has become an essential part of the team.

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