The Gr1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday boasts illustrious names like Frankel and Ridgemont – Highlands resident stallion Canford Cliffs on its glittering roll of honour.
While it feels like yesterday, it’s been a decade since Canford Cliffs overcame doubts about his fitness for his first outing in 10 months and slammed the Italian raider, Worthadd in the Lockinge.
Richard Hughes and Canford Cliffs celebrate at Royal Ascot (Pic- British Champions Series)
The victory set up a clash with champion Goldikova at Royal Ascot the next month in the Queen Anne Stakes – a race that the outstanding Hannon racer was to go on and win and register a fifth successive Gr1 success.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever had,” Hannon said. “He can cruise, this horse, but when you pick him up, he can increase [his pace] too. And they’re very rare, those horses.”
Described by trainer Richard Hannon Snr as “the best I’ve ever had”, the powerful bay Canford Cliffs won seven of 11 starts and never finished out of the first three.
Europe’s dominant miler at three and four, Canford Cliffs won five consecutive Gr1 races over the trip. His splendid Gr1 treble of the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes (over multiple Gr1 winner Dick Turpin) and Sussex Stakes (over champion Rip Van Winkle), saw him rated the top three-year-old miler in England and Ireland.
He signed off with a second to the mighty Frankel in the Gr1 Sussex Stakes and was voted the champion older miler in Europe in 2011, receiving a Timeform rating of 133.
Retired to Coolmore Stud in 2012, the son of Tagula did shuttle duty between Ireland and Australia until his purchase by Ridgemont Highlands.
At the time of writing, Canford Cliffs has sired 366 winners from 594 runners for a 61% strike-rate.
He has produced 31 international stakes winners in both hemispheres.
As befits a horse of his stature Canford Cliffs covered well over 100 mares in his first South African season two years ago.
His highly anticipated first South African crop includes half-sisters to champion Russian Sage, Gr1 winner Divine Jury and the dual Gr2 Gold Bracelet queen Running Brave, as well as half-brothers to Gr2 winner My Sanctuary and Gr3 Track & Ball Oaks winner Seville Orange.
Amongst Ridgemont Highlands mares sent to Canford Cliffs are multiple champion Dancer’s Daughter (Act One) and Front And Centre (Dynasty) who won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and the Gr3 Diana Stakes and is a multiple Graded placed racing filly.
In the mix too are Gr1 winners Takingthepeace (Visionaire) and Miss Florida (Captain Al), as well as Graded stakes winners Nastergal (Duke Of Marmalade), Sabina’s Dynasty (Dynasty), Crimson Blossom (Danehill Dancer), the dam of Gr3 Gold Cup victress Dynasty’s Blossom, Nona In Command, dam of classy stakes winner Pretty Young Thing, and the top-class champion broodmare Our Table Mountain.
Read more about Canford Cliffs– click on the image below
