Richard Hannon retires Canford Cliff to stud for fear of fracture in the horse's leg
Canford Cliff, the four-year-old champion colt, suffered an injury in his leg in late July. He had been racing in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood at that time.
Richard Hannon said that a scan showed that Canford Cliffs had a shadow on his pastern which might develop into a fracture later on, something Richard Hannon did not want.
He also added that Canford Cliffs was too great a horse to take chances with therefore he decided to stop before things got out of hand.
According to the trainer, Canford Cliff has been the best horse he has trained in the last forty years. He said it’s a shame to retire him but he does not want the horse to develop a serious injury since he has made him proud several times.
Canford Cliffs won seven times out of the eleven starts he had in his career.
Richard Hannon said that Canford Cliffs has won five Group 1 races and nothing more can be expected out of a horse.
Canford Cliffs was one of thet best winners of Coventry Stakes, beating Xtension by six lengths.
According to Richard Hannon, Canford was a rare horse as he had superb speed when he started out as a two-year-old and he maintained his beautiful performances at the age of three and four as well.
Canford Cliffs was ridden by the jockey, Richard Hughes. His mount says Canford was the best and the fastest horse he had ever ridden. He was not happy to hear about the retirement but he said tha he had an inkling that this might happen.
Canford Cliffs would be in Coolmore Stud in Ireland and soon enough he would provide the racing industry with sons and daughters which would race as fast as him.
M.V Mangier at Coolmore said that Canford Cliffs is an exceptional thoroughbred and he would be joining a select band of Group 1 stallions, all of whom have won five races at least.
He says that several breeders in Europe have shown interest in him since his purchase and he has great prospects at Coolmore Stud.
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