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bet365 Lennox Stakes 2011 |
Strong Suit Too Classy for Lennox Stakes Rivals
26/07/11
1 Strong Suit 5/2F
2 Red Jazz 7/1
3 Beacon Lodge 16/1
9 ran Distances: 1½l, hd, ¾l
TIME 1m 25.65s (slow by 1.45s)
After a narrow defeat in a Group One race in France on his previous outing, the Richard Hannon-trained Strong Suit returned to the number one spot when justifying 5/2 favouritism to land the feature Group Two bet365 Lennox Stakes on day one of Glorious Goodwood.
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The three-year-old had been revitalised by a wind operation prior to his victory in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and trainer Richard Hannon is hoping for Group One glory before the year end.
“His throat was gradually narrowing but the operation put that right and he was back to his old self,” said Hannon. “We worked him one day at Kempton with Canford Cliffs and he went so well that I said to (owner) Julie (Wood) that we’d take our chance at Ascot and both horses won there.
“We were only beaten a head and a nose last time in France in a Group One and it would be nice to win one. The Prix La Foret might be the right race for him.
Looking ahead to Canford Cliffs’ run tomorrow in the ‘Duel On The Downs’, Hannon added: “We’re giving a lot of weight away but we’ll give it a shot and it’s just unfortunate that one of them will get beat.”
Jockey Richard Hughes added: “It’s nice to get off the mark and when this horse is good he’s very good. Something upset him in France last time, I don’t know if he didn’t travel over well or he got stung or something.
“He gave me an awful ride to the start that day, he was jig jogging and it’s not in his nature to do that. I was never happy with him in the race but he was only beaten a couple of heads.
“Today he was just beautiful going to the start - a different horse. When he is good, he is good and he never does anything when he hits the front so there is no point going on - he would only throw it away and lose it. We were just worried that, having had his wind operation, the ground might have too much cut in it but he was fine.
“I was just practising for Canford Cliffs, hopefully!”
Owner Julie Wood added: “As he was turning into the straight he looked in control but you never know. Richard made his own move and didn’t wait for anyone else and he was cruising in the end.
“He’s come back to be the horse we always thought he was after the wind operation. We’ve been through a lot with him and are very fond of him.”
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Strong Suit R Hannon |
R Hughes 8st 9lbs |
5 - 2 Winner |
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2 |
Red Jazz B W Hills |
M Hills 9st 2lbs |
7 - 1 1 1/2 length |
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3 |
Beacon Lodge C G Cox |
A Kirby 9st 2lbs |
16 - 1 Head |
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4 |
Libranno R Hannon |
R L Moore 8st 9lbs |
5 - 1 3/4 length |
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5 |
Doncaster Rover D H Brown |
S De Sousa 9st 2lbs |
25 - 1 1/2 length |
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6 |
Dalghar A M Balding |
David Probert 9st 2lbs |
8 - 1 1 1/4 length |
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7 |
Majestic Myles R A Fahey |
P Hanagan 8st 9lbs |
16 - 1 1 length |
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8 |
Balthazaar's Gift C G Cox |
P Robinson 9st 2lbs |
28 - 1 2 lengths |
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9 |
Delegator S bin Suroor |
L Dettori 9st 6lbs |
7 - 2 2 lengths |
HILLS TAKES HUGHES TO TASK AFTER SUIT BEATS JAZZ
Red Jazz made much of the running until nabbed by Strong Suit in the bet365 Lennox Stakes, the feature race on day one of Glorious Goodwood.
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Hills was critical of Richard Hughes, who rode the winner, and said: “The winner chopped across him, and he [Hughes] keeps doing it. The winner won on merit, but it’s wrong. It was the sort of move that could have cost us second.”
Asked if he was referring to the finish of races in general, or of Hughes in particular, Hills said: “You look at the form, and you’ll soon see.”
Third-placed Beacon Lodge put up another pleasing performance for trainer Clive Cox who said: “He’s flown home. He appreciated the extra millimetre of rain this morning, but once more he’s shown he can compete in these top races.
“Looking ahead he does like the ground easier than good and he’s in any seven-furlongs and mile races of this type. He likes France because they do water a bit more over there and he’s a Group 3 winner at Chantilly. We don’t mind travelling if we have to.”
