It would be a lot to ask for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes to replicate their nine winners apiece from the Glorious Goodwood of 2010, but Strong Suit helped the all-conquering team make the perfect start to this year’s meeting with an effortless win in the Lennox Stakes.
A breathing operation was credited with the reason for the chestnut’s abrupt return to form in last month’s Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the performance hardly condemned when he finished a close third in a subsequent outing in the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.
Although taking on older horses over his favoured trip of seven furlongs (1400m), this was essentially a drop down in class for the 5-2 favourite and that conclusion had to be drawn with Hughes barely moving a muscle as he defeated Red Jazz by a length and a half.
“The first time he ran at Newbury in the Greenham we were very disappointed, but we put the overhead camera on him and you could see his throat closing,” Hannon said.
“That was sorted out and we worked him one day at Kempton with (top miler) Canford Cliffs and he worked so well we took our chance at Ascot and he won.
“He only got beaten a head and a nose in a Group One the other day and the Prix de la Foret might be the race for him.
“Canford Cliffs didn’t make him look ordinary – this is a good horse.”
PA AAP TURF
