Zoffany and Strong Suit sidelined for the Celebration Mile at Goodwood over ground issues
The longtime antepost favourite 3-year-old chestnut colt, Strong Suit, will not be taking part in the Group 2 Betfair Celebration Mile on 27 August, 2011, at Goodwood, because his trainer Richard Hannon is not happy with how the ground has shaped up after
the down pour.
The ground has had its share of rain, already 5mm and some more predicted. The overdose of rain will certainly leave the ground labelled soft and injury prone.
Richard Hannon hasn’t found the conditions suitable for Strong Suit to run but he has gone ahead with his other runner, the Irish 2,000 Guineas' runner-up, Dubawi Gold.
The runner will be representing Richard Hannon in the Goodwood feature race.
Strong Suit is the son of Rahy out of Helwa by Silver Hawk.
The chestnut colt has gone on to win 4 races out of his 8 career starts with 1 second place finish and two third place finishes, with career earnings of £276,330.
The Qatar Bloodstock owned Strong Suit is coming off a 1 ½ lengths victory in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes on 26 July, 2011, at Goodwood.
Under jockey Richard Hughes, the pair started off well in the seven furlong test, and took keen hold of the race very early, chasing leaders.
Strong Suit quickly assumed the 2nd position about 4 furlongs out and travelled well over a furlong out.
Under strong urging from Richard Hughes, Strong Suit quickened inside the final furlong and soon took command of the race to comfortably win it.
Aidan O’Brien trained 3-year-old bay colt, Zoffany, has also been a victim of an early scratch from the Celebration Mile over ground concerns, and he was sent at 4 to 1 to win the race.
Zoffany attempted to chase down Frankel in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes on 14 June, 2011, at the Royal Ascot, and got beaten by ¾ of a length and narrowly missed to defeat the number one colt in the world.
These two will be the notable absentees to miss out on the Goodwood feature race, while an extra ordinary group 2 event comes down to a decent event.
Tags: