NEWS
Rip Van Winkle takes on Canford Cliffs
in bid for Sussex repeat
Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 4:45 PM
by Mike Curry
Rip Van Winkle (Ire) will try for a repeat victory in the Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) on Wednesday at Goodwood, but the multiple Group 1 winner must defeat a classic winner to win the one-mile turf race for the second straight year.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien for Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, the four-year-old Galileo (Ire) colt won last year’s Sussex by 2 1/2 lengths from distinguished miler Paco Boy.
In this year’s edition of the Sussex, which drew eight contenders, Rip Van Winkle will face Abu Dhabi Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) winner Canford Cliffs, fresh off a clear victory in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (Eng-G1) on June 15 at Royal Ascot.
Canford Cliffs, the early favorite for the Sussex, also finished third in the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) in May at Newmarket. Richard Hannon trains the talented Tagula colt for a partnership.
With Canford Cliffs clearly bringing his “A” game to the race, Rip Van Winkle will need to improve off a sixth-place finish in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-G1) on June 15 at Royal Ascot in his 2010 debut. He also won last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-G1) in September at Ascot.
The Sussex Stakes also drew 2009 Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-G1) winner Beethoven (Ire), who was sixth to Canford Cliffs in the St. James’s Palace in his three-year-old bow.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred times TODAY editor
Sussex S. (Eng-G1)
July 28, $465,004, 3yo&older, 1mT, Goodwood
|
No. |
Horse |
Sire |
Jockey |
Weight |
Trainer |
| 1. |
Beacon Lodge |
Clodovil |
A. Kirby |
133 |
C. Cox |
| 2. |
Dream Eater |
Night Shift |
J. Fortune |
133 |
A. Balding |
|
3. |
Mac Love |
Cape Cross (Ire) |
M. Fenton |
133 |
S. Higgins |
| 4. |
Premio Loco |
Prized |
G. Baker |
133 |
C. Wall |
| 5. |
Rip Van Winkle (Ire) |
Galileo (Ire) |
R. Moore |
133 |
A. O'Brien |
| 6. |
Beethoven (Ire) |
Oratorio (Ire) |
J. O'Brien |
125 |
A. O'Brien |
| 7. |
Canford Cliffs |
Tagula |
R. Hughes |
125 |
R. Hannon |
| 8. |
Encompassing |
Montjeu (Ire) |
C. O'Donoghue |
125 |
A. O'Brien |
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Bob, Richmond, VA on August 11, 2010 at 07:23 PM
Incredibly unbelievable. That's the only way I know to describe the turn of foot that the 3yr.old colt, Canford Cliffs possess. He, too, is in the barn of Richard Hannon. Who's barn possesses 3 of the world's top milers. Canford Cliffs, Dick Turpin, and Paco Boy. All three are incredibly gifted G1 winners. All with an amazing turn of foot. But Hannon says that Canford Cliffs is the best horse he's ever trained, and jockey Richard Hughes, who rides all three when they're in different races, says Canford Cliffs is the best he's ever ridden. Rip Van Winkle followed his pace setter in the race. Then stole first run on the field. Looking to put enough daylight between him and the others that he couldn't be caught That's how Rip won the 09'Sussex Stakes. But taking first run on Paco Boy. Who couldn't quite run Rip down on that day. But this year, completely different story. The margin of victory is really deceiving as to how easily Canford Cliffs ran down Rip Van Winkle. Under a hand ride by Richard Hughes. Give only one crack of the whip with the wire looming. While Johnny Murtagh was wailing away of Rip with the whip. Trying to hold off the closing onslaught of Canford Cliffs.
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