Canford Cliffs surges to victory

Canford Cliffs denied globetrotting mare Goldikova a 14th Group One victory and staked his claim to be Europe’s top miler when he outbattled the French raider to win the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Jockey Richard Hughes rode a supremely confident race, sitting at the back in the early stages before producing Canford Cliffs, the 11-8 second favourite, to challenge inside the final furlong. The four-year-old secured his fourth Group One triumph, producing his renowned turn of foot to win by a length from 5-4 favourite Goldikova.

Victory was sweet compensation for trainer Richard Hannon, whose Paco Boy was beaten by a neck by Goldikova in the race last year.

“These sort of horses don’t come along very often,” said Hannon, father-in-law of the winning jockey.

“He had a good lead from Goldikova and Hughsie didn’t lose sight of her. Thankfully when it came to it he was able to go by her. It’s a shame really for anyone to beat the mare as she’s been so good but someone has to take her on.”

It was a third consecutive win at Royal Ascot for Canford Cliffs having won the Coventry Stakes in 2009 and last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes.

Goldikova, who completed an unprecedented third Breeders’ Cup Mile triumph in the United States in November, was also given a rousing reception by racegoers on her return to the paddock on a warm and sunny afternoon.

“I was thrilled with that. The people here know a champion,” said trainer Freddy Head.

“I think she ran a top, top race and is as good as ever.”

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth unveiled a statue of four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats in the parade ring before the start of the Royal meeting with the racecourse commemorating 300 years of racing in 2011.

The Queen suffered disappointment as an owner earlier this month when her Carlton House, favourite for the Epsom Derby, could only finish third.

That race was bypassed by Henry Cecil’s Frankel because of stamina doubts and the colt had to dig deep to extend his unbeaten record to seven races, holding on to win the St James’s Palace Stakes from the fast closing Zoffany. Frankel’s workmanlike victory was a stark contrast to his scintillating English 2,000 Guineas win last month and 68-year-old Cecil, awarded a knighthood last week, breathed a sigh of relief after celebrating his 73^rd Royal Ascot success.

“That was a bit nerve-wracking and it didn’t go to plan,” said Cecil after the 30-100 favourite held by three-quarters of a length after tiring in the closing stages of the one mile contest.

“He looked as if he was going to win a bit more easily and I think he thought that he had just done enough. The horse is a gentleman but complicated”

Zoffany’s Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien gained swift compensation when 4-1 favourite Power won the Coventry Stakes while Prohibit, a well-backed 7-1 chance, handed British trainer Robert Cowell and jockey Jim Crowley a first Royal Ascot success.

In a helter-skelter five furlong dash to the King’s Stand Stakes, Prohibit fended off Australian-trained Star Witness (6-1) and Sweet Sanette (16-1), trained in Hong Kong.

Hungarian sprinter Overdose, known as the “Budapest Bullet”, was in the front rank for much of the race but faded to finish fourth.

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