Richard Hannon’s Strong Suit and Lilbourne Lad are headed for Churchill Downs
The famous trainer, Richard Hannon, has two star performers this time, all set for the future races set for them after delivering at Newmarket this Saturday. It was Strong Suit who came first in the Burj Khalifa Challenge Stakes (Group 2) and Lilbourne Lad
stood second at the Emaar Middle Park Stakes (Group 1). Strong Suit for sure has to be a participant in the Churchill Downs while for Lilbourne Lad, it is one additional possibility as he has other options too.
"Strong Suit definitely heads to Churchill Downs, and there is a chance that Lilbourne Lad might be there too”, the Marlborough trainer told www.richardhannonracing.tv.
"Strong Suit is proving a revelation after that wind operation he had in the spring, and Richard Hughes reckons he is made for America. The ground at Newmarket was a bit loose on top, but in Kentucky it will probably be as hard as the local freeway and that
will suit him perfectly”.
The jockey prefers the ground conditions better than in any other region that the jockey/ride team has raced in till now.
Strong Suit has raced five times this season out of which he won three times. On 15th June it was the Ascot and then on 26th July Strong Suit won at the Goodwood. The most recent win was at Newmarket on 8th October.
At Newmarket, it was a field of eight at which Strong Suit won. He travelled well throughout the race, went on tracking the leading pair until he was second halfway, led on bit well over one furlong out, ridden and quickened clear one furlong out, ran on
well and in no danger after, eased home and won the race very comfortably.
Sir Henry Cecil’s Chachamaidee was the runner u of the race with Tom Queally and it was john Gosden trained Maqaasid under William Buick who was positioned third.
At the Park Stakes, Lilbourne Lad started off with chasing the leaders, ridden when entering the final second furlong, took every chance over one furlong out and kept on with the same pressure when was in the final furlong.
The race was won by A P O’Brien’s Crusade being ridden by Seamie Heffernan and the one to rank third was again A P O’Brien’s Reply with Ryan Moor onboard.
The trainer further said: "Lilbourne Lad is such a tough horse and Hughesie felt things might have been different if Crusade, the eventual winner, had raced closer to him. But our fellow has done us proud and showed again he is right up there with the best
of them”.
Both the horses have very delightful opportunities ahead which they have earned due to their performance and again the future prospects would depend on the effort that they put in on the upcoming races after being impressive at Newmarket.
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