Freddie Head insists he is not afraid of taking on Frankel and Canford Cliffs in the Sussex Stakes with Rajsaman.
The big two were among 12 horses who went forward at the latest declaration for the Group One event, a race that allows three-year-olds the first chance to take on their elders at a mile (1600m) in top company this season.
With Frankel the outstanding colt of his age group and Richard Hannon’s Canford Cliffs now established as the leading older miler, the race is being dubbed the ‘Duel on the Downs’ at Goodwood on July 27.
Head saw Canford Cliffs beat his stable star Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot – but has not been frightened off from having another crack.
“Rajsaman is an intended runner in the Sussex Stakes,” said Head.
“He ran a very good race in the Prix d’Ispahan, when he was finishing well. He is a nice horse who is improving all of the time and I like him a lot.
“Both Canford Cliffs and Frankel are champions but I think that Canford Cliffs is a really good horse, whereas we have to wait and see with Frankel – he hasn’t proven it yet and he wasn’t finishing too well at Royal Ascot.
“We will have to wait and see which is the better, but you have to run horses like that against each other – I hope that I still have the best miler in Goldikova!”
Godolphin have four of the remaining entries, Rio De La Plata and Nebraas along with July Cup-bound Delegator and Antara who is due to run in the Falmouth Stakes this week.
Canford Cliffs’ stablemate Dick Turpin is a possible but he is scheduled to run at Ascot this weekend after two recent disappointments.
July Cup-bound Dream Ahead still has the option, while Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative is Zoffany and Barry Hills could run Red Jazz.
John Gosden’s Maqaasid is the only three-year-old filly left in.
So You Think and Together were among those taken out.
Paddy Power make Frankel 11-10 favourite, marginally ahead of Canford Cliffs at 6-5.
“The market reflects the duel on the downs that the Sussex Stakes has been dubbed, with the big two separated by the width of a betting slip, and then it’s double figure prices the rest,” Power said.
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