Richard Hannon re-ignites Frankel and Canford Cliffs showdown in Sussex Stakes at Goodwood
Canford Cliffs' trainer, Richard Hannon, has already started playing mind games ahead of the 27 July British Champions’ Series Group 1 QIPCO Sussex Stakes for three-year-olds and above.
Hannon believes that life will be significantly difficult for the unbeaten Sir Henry Cecil trained Frankel against the “big boys” in the Goodwood meet.
The four-year-old Canford Cliffs won the Group 1 Sussex Stakes will be trying to defend his title over the 1 mile event.
Canford Cliffs faces a considerable threat this year in the shape of Frankel, who has been unbeaten throughout his 2-year old career.
It is a tough line up this time for the QIPCO Sussex Stakes as it includes the likes of Dream Ahead, who recently won the British Champions’ Series and Global sprint challenge, the Group 1 Darley July Cup on 9 July and looks like a main contender to sweep
up the Sussex Stakes.
Dream Ahead gave female jockey Hayley Turner the honours of grabbing a Group 1 win after 14 years drought. Last female jockey to do so was Alex Greaves.
The likes of Delegator will also contest for the title as he comes out of a difficult run in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket, finishing fifth behind 3 lengths behind the winner Dream Ahead.
The three-year-old bay colt, Frankel has seen it all before and don’t it seven times before against his contemporaries, including the emphatic win in the QIPCO Guineas 2,000, where he won by a magnificent six lengths over Dubawi Gold on 30 April, 2011.
Frankel will be facing older horses for the first time in his career and he might be in a vulnerable position as he disputes favouritism with Canford Cliffs over the 1 mile Sussex Stakes.
Richard Hannon described Canford Cliffs as a proper man and further said that the son of Tagula was becoming increasingly lazy, due to the lack of worthy adversaries on the field, but this time around it is Frankel and this is what the colt needs to spark
life in to him.
Frankel vs. Canford Cliffs is a highly anticipated clash, both are multiple stakes winners and for the first time they will face off each other at Goodwood.
Canford Cliffs last win was at the Royal Ascot, where he defeated the highly rated Goldikova by a length in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes on 14 June 2011.
Sir Henry Cecil in his champions’ defense has already countered any statements from anyone, by saying that the son of Galileo will be ridden differently but jockey Tom Queally remained silenced about his plans for Goodwood.
Both parties will be looking for the chinks in their adversaries armour and look to exploit them on race day at Goodwood.
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