STRONG SUIT will use this weekend’s Betfair Celebration Mile at Goodwood as a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the autumn.

Richard Hannon’s three-year-old has been in fine form this season following a breathing operation. He won both the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and is a best-priced 11-4 with Victor Chandler for Saturday’s Group Two contest.

Both those wins were over seven furlongs and Strong Suit will be stepped up to a mile again this weekend. He was a close-up third to Mutual Tryst over the trip in the Group One Prix Jean Prat in between his two successes.

Now owned by Pearl Bloodstock, he has been bought as a stallion prospect but David Redvers, bloodstock agent for the owners, admits there is still a question mark over his stamina.

Redvers said: “He’s in great order. I’ve spoken to both Richards this morning and the plan is definitely to run on Saturday, as long as the ground is on the good side – he wouldn’t want to run him over a mile on soft ground.

“I hope the trip won’t be a problem. He’s one of those horses that has so much speed you almost think he’d be better at six than a mile, but our long-term ambition for the horse is very much the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“We think he’ll get the mile in America but we’re not so sure he’d get it anywhere over here other than Goodwood on good ground.

“He’s definitely been bought with a stud career in mind, but also as an investment and a racing prospect.

“Although I couldn’t say for certain he’ll stay in training next year, if we thought it was the right thing to do we might well give him another season, but if he fulfils his enormous potential this year then we might well retire him. It’s very much up in the air at the moment.”

TODAY’S NAP: Dubara Reef (3.20pm Catterick).