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| Coventry Stakes 2009 |
COVENTRY STAKES (GROUP 2) (CLASS 1) (2yo)
16/06/09
1 Canford Cliffs 7/4 Fav
2 Xtension 20/1
3 Rakaan 28/1
13 ran
Canford destroys Coventry rivals
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Canford Cliffs streaked home for a six-length victory in the Coventry Stakes to leave his excited trainer dreaming of next year and Guineas glory. The son of Tagula was quoted at 8/1 for next season’s 2000 Guineas after his highly impressive performance.
Richard Hannon, who was completing a 10.9/1 double on the day after the opening race victory of Paco Boy, said: “The Coventry is a very hard race to win but the way he’s won it was fantastic. I love this horse, he’s such a laidback character. He’s so easy at home - you wouldn’t know he was in the yard.
“Richard (Hughes) rode him work one morning and said ‘wow, this is a racehorse’. Then he said today that he ran away with him and when he shook the reins he went on again. It would be hard to find another one as good as him.
“We may look at the July Stakes but this horse wants looking after - he could be next year’s horse. We’re going to have to be careful with him this year. I wish we had two or three more who could go with him.
“If he was on of Aidan’s (‘Brien) horses, he would probably be 4/6 for next year’s Guineas!”
He continued: “If we hadn’t had a winner today we’d have been a bit shy for the rest of the week. Those were our two big chances.”
Richard Hughes teamed up again with his father-in-law to take the winning ride and was full of praise for his mount, saying: “I’ve never ridden a horse like him in my life. I’ve never known a horse to run away with me and win a race. All I was trying to do was slow him down. He was a little bit lit up going to the start and he jumped really quickly. When the boys came whooshing up beside me he was very keen and I’ve never known a horse pull that hard in a race.
“The first day I sat on him I knew he was something special. I don’t want to talk him up too much but he has gone and done something really special today.”
“I rode a few canters on him and liked him a lot. I thought he would be ready in July because he was a bit big and a bit long but I gave him a half-speed one morning and I have never ridden anything like it in my life. I said to the boss that this is something serious.
“He went off 10 lengths in front of two other lads and they got a bollocking because they couldn’t lie up with him. It was an unbelievable bit of work.
“We were in the stalls quick and he jumped really quickly and the boys were whooshing up beside me which made him a bit keen. At home he does all of his work in behind.
“He’s the best horse I have ever ridden - he’s a freak.”
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Canford Cliffs R Hannon |
R Hughes 9st 1lbs |
7 - 4 Winner |
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2 |
Xtension C G Cox |
A Kirby 9st 1lbs |
20 - 1 6 lengths |
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3 |
Rakaan B J Meehan |
J P Spencer 9st 1lbs |
28 - 1 3/4 length |
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4 |
Moran Gra Ms J Morgan |
K J Manning 9st 1lbs |
20 - 1 1 1/2 length |
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5 |
Treadwell J A Osborne |
S W Kelly 9st 1lbs |
33 - 1 Nose |
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6 |
No Hubris P F I Cole |
Martin Dwyer 9st 1lbs |
11 - 2 1/2 length |
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7 |
Red Jazz B W Hills |
M Hills 9st 1lbs |
11 - 2 3/4 length |
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8 |
Fremont R Hannon |
R L Moore 9st 1lbs |
20 - 1 1 1/2 length |
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9 |
Alrasm M A Jarvis |
R Hills 9st 1lbs |
12 - 1 1 3/4 length |
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10 |
Flying Statesman R A Fahey |
P Hanagan 9st 1lbs |
16 - 1 2 3/4 lengths |
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11 |
Air Chief Marshal A P O'Brien |
J Murtagh 9st 1lbs |
11 - 1 1/2 length |
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12 |
Raine's Cross P Winkworth |
Jim Crowley 9st 1lbs |
16 - 1 3 3/4 lengths |
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13 |
Marsh Warbler M Johnston |
L Dettori 9st 1lbs |
16 - 1 9 lengths |
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NonRunner |
Walkingonthemoon Tom Dascombe |
R Kingscote 9st 1lbs |
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XTENSION RAISES HIS GAME
Trainer Clive Cox was all smiles after Xtension came from nowhere to claim second place in the Coventry Stakes, six lengths behind the winner Canford Cliffs.
“The winner’s very special, but mine cost 15,000 Euros in a day when a Euro was a Euro,” said the trainer.
“He’s a lovely horse and we knew he would improve on his first outing [a maiden victory at Goodwood].
“The fantastic things about him is his temperament, he’s so quiet. He’s lazy at home, but he’s a Xaar and I wasn’t going to beat him up.
“The dreams have gone up a gear after that, but we are going to gradually see how we go.
“I’ve got my eye on Pattern races in the autumn,” said Cox.
