Suit misses Celebration

Ante-post favourite Strong Suit is a surprising absentee from the final declarations for Saturday’s Betfair Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

Connections had stated earlier in the week that he would sidestep the race if the ground turned soft and with the track already seeing some rain with more forecast, they have opted not to run.

Strong Suit has only recently been bought by Pearl Bloodstock and their racing manager, David Redvers, revealed the Richard Hannon-trained colt is now likely to wait for the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc weekend.

“We’ll probably wait for the Foret now,” said Redvers.

“They’ve had some rain in Goodwood with more forecast and although I’m in France, I’ve been told than when it comes it’s coming in torrents.

“He does act with give in the ground but it’s whether he’s as effective over a mile on soft ground, that would really stretch him and we don’t want to bottom him.

“His main aim is the Breeders’ Cup Mile, which is effectively a seven-furlong race anyway, so we’ve no worries about him over there. We just didn’t want him to have too hard a race so it makes sense.

“We thought we’d let everyone know early to save messing about.”

Hannon will instead be represented by 2000 Guineas runner-up Dubawi Gold, who is looking to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Hungerford Stakes.

Last year’s winner Poets’s Voice is one of two representatives for Saeed bin Suroor as he will be joined by stablemate Emerald Commander, a former Hannon inmate.

Two seven-year-olds, Premio Loco and Riggins will take their chance, along with Clive Cox’s Beacon Lodge.

Andrew Balding’s Set The Trend completes the seven-runner line-up.