England: Strong Suit looks to regain best form in Hungerford at Newbury

Strong Suit, a multiple group stakes winner in 2011 but winless in two starts this year, will be favored to win Saturday’s Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over seven furlongs on turf at Newbury, England.

Trained by Richard Hannon, Strong Suit, a 4-year-old Arkansas-bred colt by Rahy, was eighth of 12 in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket on July 11, a race run on a heavy turf course. The turf course is projected to be good at Newbury on Saturday.

Owned by Qatar Racing Ltd., Strong Suit is part of a field of 10 in the Hungerford, which will be run on a straight course. He will face a challenge from the recent stakes winners Chachamaidee and Soul.

Chachamaidee, trained by Henry Cecil, won the Group 2 Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood on July 31. A 5-year-old mare, she was second in the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Soul, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, is a 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding. Soul was fourth behind the undefeated Australian-based superstar Black Caviar in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but rebounded to win the Group 3 Chrisbeekracing.com Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury on July 14.