Canford Cliffs returns in Newbury's Lockinge Stakes
Canford Cliffs, who ended his 3-year-old season last July with three consecutive wins in Group 1 stakes, will be heavily favored in his 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, west of London.
Canford Cliffs is part of a field of 10 in the $285,000 Lockinge Stakes, run on a straightaway mile.
Trained by Richard Hannon, Canford Cliffs has not started since winning the Sussex Stakes for 3-year-olds at Goodwood last July. Canford Cliffs won the Sussex Stakes by a neck after a troubled start. Last spring, Canford Cliffs was third in the English 2000 Guineas and won the Irish 2000 Guineas and St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
In the Lockinge, Richard Hughes will ride Canford Cliffs, who is likely to be an odds-on favorite.
Hannon also starts the biggest threat to Canford Cliffs in Dick Turpin, who was second in the 2010 St. James’s Palace Stakes and later won the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat in France. Dick Turpin, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, has made one start this year, winning the Group 2 Sandown Mile on April 23.
Twice Over, third behind Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, makes his first start since a ninth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in March. Trained by Henry Cecil, Twice Over was third in the 2009 Lockinge Stakes, his most recent start at a mile. Twice Over won the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket last October, his last start in England.
◗ Joviality won her stakes debut in Wednesday’s Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York, a race that trainer John Gosden said was a prep for the Group 1 French Oaks at Chantilly on June 12.
Joviality won the Musidora Stakes over Barefoot Lady by a head, taking the lead in the final furlong of the race over 1 5/16 miles. Arizona Jewel, the 11-8 favorite, finished fourth, fading in deep stretch.
Joviality, a British-bred filly by Cape Cross, was a maiden before the Musidora, having finished third and second in her first two starts.