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Canford Cliffs retired
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| Canford Cliffs cruises by the great Goldikova to win the Quene Anne at Royal Ascot
(Photo courtesy of Primus Advertising) |
CANFORD CLIFFS (Tagula) has been retired on veterinary advice due to a near-fore
pastern injury which he suffered during the Sussex S. (Eng-G1) at Goodwood last
week. The brilliant miler will stand at Coolmore Stud for the 2012 season.
A five-time Group 1 winner, the four-year-old recorded three notable wins at
Royal Ascot -- a facile six-length tally in the Coventry S. (Eng-G2) as a
juvenile, a convincing one-length score in the St. James's Palace S. (Eng-G1)
last season and a victory over the mighty Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) in this
year's Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1).
"Canford Cliffs was a very rare type in that he had such great early speed as
a two-year-old but also stretched out to be a superb miler at three and four,"
trainer Richard Hannon said of the English and Irish highweight. "He is without
doubt the best horse I have had in over 40 years as a trainer. It's bitterly
disappointing for his owners and for everyone here in East Everleigh that he had
to be retired due to injury, but at least it does explain why he hung so badly
at Goodwood. We were very much looking forward to taking on Frankel (Galileo
[Ire]) again."
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Canford Cliffs drifted out badly in the final furlongs when finishing second
to Frankel in his final career outing.
Leading jockey Richard Hughes, who rode the colt in all his 11 starts,
described him as "the best and fastest I have ever ridden."
As a yearling, Canford Cliffs was purchased by bloodstock agent Peter Doyle,
who declared that "Canford Cliffs' quality was always evident, he was a standout
as a yearling. He is built like a tank and had a great walk and constitution
too."
"It's very unfortunate that he has been retired as a re-match with Frankel
would have been a race to savor, but Canford Cliffs is an exceptional looking
individual and he joins a select band of stallions to have won five or more
consecutive Group 1 races," Coolmore's M.V. Magnier stated. "Ever since we
bought into him last year many of the top breeders in Europe have shown a very
keen interest in him so I have no doubt he will be a very popular stallion."
Canford Cliffs retires with earnings of $1,470,387 from a 11-7-2-2 line.
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