Richard Hughes: Canford Cliffs can't get beaten

Confident: Richard Hughes is thrilled by Canford Cliffs
Geoff Lester13 April 2012

Richard Hughes is confident that Canford Cliffs "will get the job done" when he takes on the older generation for the first time in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood tomorrow.

Though the colt was only third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, he proved himself Europe's top three-year-old miler when cruising to victory in the Irish Guineas at the Curragh and Royal Ascot's St James's Palace Stakes.

While Hughes had a rear view of Rip Van Winkle in the Group One Sussex Stakes 12 months ago when riding Paco Boy, the Irishman is confident of gaining revenge for the stable on a champion miler whom he insists is "the complete package".

And Hughes has played down concerns that Canford Cliffs won't handle the undulations at Goodwood tomorrow (3.25) because he lost his action in the final stages of the 2,000 Guineas when encountering Newmarket's dip.

Hughes said: "It was as much the fact that he had not come to himself on Guineas day as any fault of the course which got him beat but he now settles so much better and I don't see the track being a problem for him.

"I have some great rides for Richard Hannon at Goodwood but this is the one that matters most and he is my banker of the week. Take a look at Canford Cliffs in the paddock and you won't think he is the same horse since the start of the season.

"Even since he won at Ascot he has got bigger and stronger. He looks magnificent, has such an explosive turn of foot, and provided I can get him switched off after the first furlong, I can't see us being beaten.

"I hope they go a good gallop as it will help me get him relaxed but if they do go slow there isn't a horse in Europe who can quicken like he can, so either way we will get the job done."

Hughes also teams up with Hannon's Superlative Stakes winner King Torus in the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (2.45).

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