Strong Suit ready to run in Mill Reef Stakes
Suggesting a horse has something to prove after just three runs would be fatuous in the extreme, but Strong Suit will be given the chance to reaffirm his position as a genuine contender for next season’s 2000 Guineas at Newbury on Saturday.
Strong Suit (pictured right), who created such a favourable impression when he won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot but lost his unbeaten record when a half-length third to Zoffany in the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last month, is one of 12 acceptors for the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.
Richard Hannon had originally decided to run Zebedee, who won the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster on Friday, but has changed plans after speaking to Julie Woods, who owns both horses. Speaking on his website Hannon said: “We have decided to run Strong Suit rather than Zebedee, who will now wait for the Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot. Strong Suit worked brilliantly on the grass up at Everleigh the other morning, and he is now back in the sort of form he was before winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.”
After the race Richard Hughes was of the opinion that the horse would have been better ridden slightly more off the pace but the trainer believes that there may have been other factors involved as well. “I blame myself for his defeat in Ireland as I think he went there a bit rusty,” Hannon said. “It was a long time off, and he got bored working on the Polytrack, and, looking back, it was a similar story before the Royal meeting. When the grass gets firm we have no option but to keep to the all-weather, but I remember Hughesie saying how Strong Suit came alive when we were able to switch him back to the turf gallop before the Coventry, and the colt's latest bit of work was very impressive.
“I remain convinced that Strong Suit is a very good horse, and, though he will have to carry a penalty in the Mill Reef, we hope the race will put him back on track and prove the ideal confidence-booster. However, Hughesie reckons riding him handier in Ireland did not seem to suit him, so we will probably revert to the tactics of dropping him at Newbury.”
Hannon also has in Libranno in the race while the Jeremy Noseda-trained Formosina, the winner of the Group Two Railway Stakes at the Curragh in July, and Ed McMahon's Super Sprint winner Temple Meads are other possible runners.
Another high-profile reverse for Hannon was Memory, who lost her position as market-leader for the 1000 Guineas when disappointing in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last time. He has decided not to chase the money on offer in the Tattersalls Millions Fillies' Auction Stakes at Newmarket on Friday – with Date With Destiny running instead - and will wait for the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at the same track on October 1st.
“Memory breezed this morning and is fine, but we left her in at Newmarket as it was a free entry and it was always the intention to wait for the Cheveley Park,” Hannon said. “She had no chance from that coffin-box draw in Ireland, and I hope that she'll show everyone how good she really is at Newmarket. We will run Date of Destiny instead in the Sales race - our George Washington filly could not handle the soft ground in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood, but she had looked a bit special when winning her maiden at Newbury and this has always been the plan for her.”
Poet's Place, winner of the Portland Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday, remains among 173 acceptors for the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday.
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