RICHARD Hannon believes soft ground led to Toormore's downfall in the International Topkapi Trophy in Turkey on Sunday.

Last season's champion two-year-old could only finish third, beaten a length by Glory Awaits, at a meeting where the Hannon stable were successful in the International Bosphorus Cup with Pether's Moon.

Hannon has not lost faith in Toormore, owned by Middleham Park Racing and James Pak, and is looking forward to training him next year.

"It was good to see Pether's Moon come back to form when winning the Bosphorus Cup in Turkey," the Herridge trainer told richardhannonracing.co.uk.

"Apart from his hiccup in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury last time, he has done nothing wrong this season, and, though he was on and off the bridle, that is him, and, ultimately, he has won easily in the end.

"Like Pether's Moon, Toormore started odds-on for the Group Two Topkapi Trophy out there, and, though he could finish only third, he still picked up £45,000.

"The ground turned very soft and, while Pether's Moon got away with it, Toormore was never happy on the surface, so, under the circumstances, he has run very well.

"He is such a good mover that he wants fast ground, and, while we have not yet decided whether to go again this season, it's good news that he is staying with us as a four-year-old."

The Hannon team also enjoyed a good Saturday with two good juvenile winners in Mutasayyid and Burnt Sugar.

Hannon said: "Mutasayyid won what looked a hot maiden at Ascot and clearly had learned plenty from his debut.

"Frankie (Dettori) liked his attitude, and he is a colt we have always had a lot of time for, so we might now have a look at the Autumn Stakes at Ascot.

"Burnt Sugar emulated his half-brother, Brown Sugar, by winning the Group Three Sirenia Stakes at Kempton.

"We thought that he would enjoy the surface as he won his maiden by six lengths at Lingfield, and he could not have been more impressive.

"Gerald Mosse, who rode Burnt Sugar, was very complimentary and reckons he can continue to climb the ladder, and we might well look for a race in France."