3 minute read
Strong Suit is pleasing his connections ahead of a likely clash with Frankel in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Richard Hannon's star is yet to make his four-year-old debut after sidestepping the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury won by Frankel on account of the testing conditions.
The Queen Anne would appear his most logical target, but David Redvers, racing manager for owners Qatar Racing, admits the team are in a quandary whether Strong Suit should return against Sir Henry Cecil's wonder horse.
"Strong Suit has worked extremely well. Both Richard Hughes and Richard Hannon are thrilled to bits," Redvers said.
"The Queen Anne is still the plan, but it's an interesting one.
"We have to weigh up whether getting a thumping at Royal Ascot would be the right thing to do for Strong Suit's prospective stallion career. We believe we've got the second best miler in Europe, but we've got to prove that."
Regardless of whether Strong Suit lines up in the Queen Anne, owner Sheikh Fahad is still likely to be represented in the race by Diomed Stakes winner Side Glance.
The Andrew Balding-trained five-year-old runs under Sheikh Fahad's Pearl Bloodstock banner.
Redvers said: "Side Glance is definitely going for the Queen Anne. He's a gelding, so we don't have to worry about him going to stud.
"We were delighted with him at Epsom as everything that could go wrong did and he still managed to win.
"He loves Ascot and loves a straight mile."The Hannon-trained Harbour Watch is at best "50-50" to line up in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot according to Redvers.
The three-year-old was hugely impressive on his three starts as a juvenile but has not yet seen the racecourse this season after suffering a setback.
Redvers feels the Royal meeting may come too soon.
"Harbour Watch is coming along nicely, but we do want him to be 110% when he goes to the races and Ascot is coming up pretty quick," Redvers said.
"I'd say it's 50-50 whether he makes Ascot and I just suspect it might come or week or two too soon.
"It is still only the middle of June and there are lots of races for him.
"It might be that we run him a fortnight after Ascot and then have a go at something like the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood."
