"Elvis" refused visa for Kentucky
Paco Boy, who worked with his customary enthusiasm under Richard Hughes at Herridge on Sunday, will have one more gallop before climbing aboard the plane next Monday for the final race of his career, the Breeders Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on November 6.
However, Richard Hannon is "disappointed" that the Indian stable lad who has ridden Paco Boy every morning for the last two years has been refused a working visa by the American immigration authorities.
Hannon said:"Don't ask me for the lad's proper name, but we have always called him Elvis. We filled in all the relevant forms so that he could go out with Paco Boy to Kentucky, and now we hear that his application has been turned down.
"Apparently, they are not required to give us a reason for the refusal, but I think it is very unfair and feel sorry for the lad, who idolises Paco Boy and has done so much with the horse these last two seasons.
"I don't know whether they are frightened that Elvis will do a runner, but he is a smashing lad who just wants to do his job and he would have flown out with the horse on November 1 and returned to Herridge the following Monday.
"We also applied for visas for two of our British lasses, Clare and Stacey, and they have both been granted, so why pick on Elvis. Now you know why I will not be going - America is not for me. I tried it twice and didn't like the place, so I will leave it to Richard jnr and Richard Hughes to bring home a fistful of dollars.
"Paco Boy has kept his form remarkably well through the season - he had his first run at Sandown in April - and, while we've obviously got Goldikova to beat, he does have that terrific turn of foot, so ought to be suited by the style of their racing out there, and who knows we might just get lucky."
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