THE waiting is over and the scene set for the tumultuous clash between Canford Cliffs and Frankel in the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Goodwood today.
In a year of eagerly-anticipated races, this Group One between the champion older miler and the unbeaten Classic winner tops the lot.
Will it be a case of the three-year-old coming out on top in receipt of a handy weight allowance as proved the case with Nathaniel in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes?
Or, will Canford Cliffs make history by repeating last year’s victory to become the first horse ever to win this race more than once?
With the big two having frightened off most of the opposition only four runners will go to post, meaning that tactics could have a big say in the outcome.
However, Frankel’s jockey Tom Queally is totally unfazed by that.
“There will be a huge crowd and it should be a great spectacle, despite there only being four runners, with the big two horses frightening off the others, but it makes no difference to me,” he said.
“It wouldn’t bother me if there were 14 or just two, we know what we have to do. Frankel has shown he’s the best three-year-old around and now he has to prove it against older horses, namely Canford Cliffs. He hasn’t met a horse of that calibre before so this will tell us where he ranks among all the milers around today.
“A lot has been written and said about tactics, but we have options with Frankel, and in the end I’m sure it will be a case of the best horse winning.”
Connections of Canford Cliffs are equally up for the challenge.
His trainer Richard Hannon has yet to find any weakness in the four-year-old, who he believes is now at his peak.
“Unfortunately, one of them will be beaten. I don’t know who is going to win. It will be very interesting to see what happens,” he said. “If there are any weaknesses in Canford Cliffs, I haven’t found them.
“Once Richard (Hughes) had Canford Cliffs settled as a three-year-old, it all happened from there. He is probably at his peak now. He is a strong horse and going well.
“Whatever Richard does in the race is OK with me – he is a top-class jockey.”
CHRIS WRIGHT'S NAP: Sadler's Risk (3.45pm Goodwood).
