King Canford reigns at Ascot
Patience was rewarded in droves for the Richard Hannon team when Canford Cliffs lowered the colours of Goldikova in a vintage renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
It was 12 months to the day that the champion trainer saw Paco Boy narrowly fail to beat the French wonder mare, and privately they vowed revenge a year later.
Even then the Hannon camp felt that in Canford Cliffs (11-8), who won the St James’s Palace on that same card in 2010, they had a horse who could nail Goldikova.
And they were proved right as the highly-talented four-year-old colt, ridden with typical coolness by Richard Hughes, swept by the 13-times Group One winner to take the eagerly-anticipated curtain-raiser to the whole five days by a length.
He was adding this showpiece event to his wins in the St James’s Palace and the Coventry Stakes as a two-year-old.
That feat was achieved by Sun Prince in the early 1970s, although none of those races had Group One status then, and Canford Cliffs had to do it against the equine queen of France, who was sent off the 5-4 favourite.
“We had to have a go at her. He’s a very good horse and has got a great cruising speed, and he’s also got a turn of foot. That’s the main thing,” said Hannon.
“Goldikova digs in. We knew she would – she did last year (against Paco Boy). We got her then but she stuck her neck out and went again.
“She’s won 13 Group ones. Perhaps it was unlucky 13 for her.”
Hughes, Hannon’s son-in-law, has always believed in this horse.
“He’s never put a foot wrong from day one and I’ve always said he’s the best horse I’ve ever ridden,” he said.
“Richard (Hannon) told me not to miss the kick and I was very lucky as I landed behind Goldikova.
“It was a game of cat and mouse. I couldn’t kick until Goldikova kicked.
“The other jockeys could have made it hard for me but they didn’t. I was just where I wanted to be.
“Ryan Moore (on the third, Cityscape) could have made it a barging match but he didn’t and I’m thankful for that.
“He’s an amazing horse. I had to quicken to get to Goldikova, then I had to quicken again. I would say the last two furlongs were the fastest of the race.
“I’ve been saying what a wonder horse this is. Paco Boy was a good horse but he’s better and he had to be to beat such a special mare.”
As for the future, Hannon would like to step the colt up to a mile and a quarter, but any plans have to go through the Coolmore operation in Ireland at whose stud Canford Cliffs will stand after his four-year-old career.
“It will probably be the Sussex next,” the trainer went on. “I left him in the Eclipse this morning. It cost 1,600 quid – that’s quite expensive. I wouldn’t mind giving him a chance at a mile and a quarter.
“Coolmore own half of him so we will have to see what they want to do. Whether they will let him go for it I don’t know. This season will be his last.”
Goldikova’s trainer Freddie Head was magnanimous in defeat and congratulated Hannon.
Head said: “I was very happy, there’s nothing too much to say as there were no excuses on the ground and Canford Cliffs is a very good horse.
“She saw daylight a little bit early, but she ran very well. The mile here is a bit long, it is a bit far for her and she has a job getting the distance here.”
“We will probably look at the Prix Jacques le Marois next and, of course, the Breeders’ Cup at the end of the year to try to win it for the fourth time.”
There was a surprising post-script when Goldikova’s rider Olivier Peslier was fined £650 for changing his boots after weighing out.
Roger Charlton said of third-placed Cityscape: “You could only be pleased and it was a career-best effort.
“Ryan (Moore) said if the ground had been a bit softer then who knows.
“Those are the two best turf milers in the world so I am thrilled.
“We might have a look at something at Deauville, perhaps the Jacques le Marois.”
Rio De La Plata was fourth for Godolphin and his trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “He ran well and that is the best race over a mile in the world.”
