Strong Suit

Last updated
Strong Suit
Owner Mrs J Wood.svg Owner Qatar Bloodstock Ltd.svg Owner Qatar Racing Limited.svg
Racing silks of Julie Wood
Qatar Bloodstock and Qatar Racing
Sire Rahy
Grandsire Blushing Groom
DamHelwa
Damsire Silver Hawk
Sex Stallion
Foaled9 February 2008 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Chestnut
BreederMcDowell Farm, Gainsborough Farm & Robert N. Clay
OwnerJulie Wood
Qatar Racing Fahad Al Thani
Trainer Richard Hannon Sr.
Simon Callaghan
Record16: 5-2-2
Earnings£346,561
Major wins
Coventry Stakes (2010)
Jersey Stakes (2011)
Lennox Stakes (2011)
Challenge Stakes (2011)

Strong Suit (foaled 9 February 2008) is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Although he never won a Group 1 race and was overshadowed by contemporaries such as Frankel and Dream Ahead he was a top-class performer over distances from six furlongs to one mile and was rated among the twenty best racehorses in the world at his peak. As a juvenile in 2010 he won the Coventry Stakes and was placed in both the Phoenix Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes. In the following year he took the Jersey Stakes, Lennox Stakes and Challenge Stakes as well as being narrowly beaten in the Prix Jean Prat. He failed to win as a four-year-old and made no impact when sent to race in the United States. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in India.

Contents

Background

Strong Suit is a chestnut horse with a large white star [2] bred by the Arkansas-based McDowell Farm in partnership with Gainsborough Farm and Robert N Clay. As a foal he was offered for sale at Keeneland in November 2008 and was bought for $27,000 by the bloodstock agent Margaret O'Toole. [3] He was shipped to Europe and in August 2009 he was put up for auction at Goffs and was sold for £40,000 to Peter Doyle Bloodstock. [4] He entered the ownership of Julie Wood and was sent into training with Richard Hannon Sr. at East Everleigh in Wiltshire. Strong Suit was ridden in all but one of his European starts by Richard Hughes.

His sire, Rahy (19852011), sired the winners of over three hundred races, including more than thirty at Group One/Grade I level. Apart from Strong Suit, his best progeny included Noverre, Serena's Song and Fantastic Light. [5] Strong Suit's dam Helwa never contested a race but was a granddaughter of Private Colors, a full-sister to Personal Ensign. [6]

Racing career

2010: two-year-old season

Strong Suit made his racecourse debut in a maiden race over six furlongs at Newbury Racecourse on 14 May and started the 6/4 favourite in a twelve-runner field. He recovered from being hampered when the front-running Straight Line veered to the left, took the lead a furlong out and won "going away" by one and three quarter lengths from Neebras. [7] A month later the colt was stepped up sharply in class to contest the Group 2 Coventry Stakes over six furlongs at Royal Ascot and started the 15/8 favourite in a thirteen-runner field. After being repeatedly denied a clear run in the last quarter mile he produced a strong late run, caught the leader Elzaam in the last stride and won by a nose. [8] Hughes commented "He's a bit raw and goofy. When I pulled him out to go around one after a couple of furlongs, he cocked his jaw and ran into the back of the other horse. It was like hitting a stationary car. How he got back up to win after that I don't know". [2]

On 8 August, Strong Suit was sent to Ireland to contest the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs at the Curragh and was made the 4/9 favourite against six opponents. He took the lead approaching the final furlong but was overtaken in the final strides and was beaten half a length and a short head by Zoffany and Glor Na Mara. On his final start of the season the colt contested the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse on 1 October. Racing on soft ground he proved no match for the easy winner Dream Ahead but came home second of the eight runners.

In the official end of the year classification, Strong Suit was give a rating of 113, making him the 17th best juvenile colt in Europe. [9]

2011: three-year-old season

On 16 April Strong Suit started second favourite for the Greenham Stakes (a major trial for the 2000 Guineas) over seven furlongs at Newbury but made no impact and came home last of the six runners behind Frankel. He then underwent an operation to correct a breathing problem. [10] After an absence of two months the colt returned to the track in the Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot a race in which he carried a five-pound weight penalty for his Coventry Stakes win a year previously. He started at odds of 11/1 in a nine-runner field which included New Deerfield (King Charles II Stakes), Splash Point (UAE 2000 Guineas), Havane Smoker (runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches), Oracle (third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas) and the previously undefeated Western Aristocrat. After racing second place Strong Suit took the lead approaching the final furlong and won by half a length from New Deerfield. [11]

Strong Suit was sent to France for the Prix Jean Prat over 1600 metres at Chantilly on 3 July. In a slowly-run race he made the running but was overtaken in the straight and although he rallied to briefly regain the advantage in the last 100 metres he was beaten a head and a nose by Mutual Trust and Zoffany in a three-way photo-finish. Later that month he was matched against older horses for the first time in the Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse and started the 5/2 field in a nine-runner field which included Delegator (Duke of York Stakes), Red Jazz (Challenge Stakes), Libranno (Richmond Stakes). After tracking the leaders he went to the front a furlong out and accelerated away in the closing stages to win "comfortably" by one and a half lengths from Red Jazz. [12] His assistant trainer Richard Hannon Jr. said "He might be a horse for the Sussex Stakes next year. I think he will get a mile in time but there are so many nice races like this for him to mop up". [13] Following the race he was acquired privately by Qatar Racing.

Strong Suit was off the racecourse for well over two months before returning in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on 8 October. In a field of eight he started 13/8 favourite, just ahead of the filly Chachamaidee (Oak Tree Stakes) with the best-fancied of the others being Maqaasid another filly who had finished third in that year's 1000 Guineas. After tracking the pacemaking Across The Rhine he went to the front approaching the final furlong and quickly went clear of the field to win by four and a half lengths from Chachamaidee. [14]

For his final run of the season Strong Suit was sent to the United States to contest the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on 5 November. He started second favourite behind Goldikova but was never able to challenge the leaders and came home tenth of the thirteen runners.

In the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings Strong Suit was given a rating of 123, making him the 17th best racehorse in the world and the fifth-best three-year-old colt. [15]

2012: four-year-old season

On his first run of 2012 Strong Suit ran in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June but a third win at the meeting never looked likely to materialise and he finished tenth of the eleven runners behind Frankel. A return to six furlongs in the following month brought no better results as he came home eighth behind Mayson in the July Cup at Newmarket. At Newbury in August the colt was ridden by Ryan Moore produced his best effort of the season in the Hungerford Stakes as he produced a strong late run but failed narrowly to overhaul the 25/1 outsider Lethal Force. [16] In the Haydock Sprint Cup on 8 September he started the 11/2 third choice in the betting but after leading for most of the way he tired badly in the closing stages and finished seventh behind Society Rock. In the Park Stakes a week later he started favourite but came home fourth behind Libranno after never threatening to win.

At the end of the year he was transferred to the stable of Simon Callaghan in the United States. On his only run for his new trainer he finished towards the rear of the field in the Grade II Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita Park in February 2013. [17]

Stud record

At the end of his racing career Strong Suit was retired to become a breeding stallion at the Manjri Stud in Pune, India. [18]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Strong Suit (USA), chestnut stallion [1]
Sire
Rahy (USA)
1985
Blushing Groom (FR)
1974
Red God (USA) Nasrullah (GB)
Spring Run
Runaway Bride (GB)Wild Risk (FR)
Aimee
Glorious Song (CAN)
1976 
Halo (USA) Hail To Reason
Cosmah
Ballade (USA) Herbager (FR)
Miss Swapsco
Dam
Helwa (USA)
1995 
Silver Hawk
1979 
Roberto Hail To Reason
Bramalea
Gris VitesseAmerigo (GB)
Matchiche (FR)
Team Colors
1988
Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Private Colors Private Account
Grecian Banner (Family: 6-a) [6]

Related Research Articles

Lethal Force Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Lethal Force is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2011 he showed potential but failed to win in four races. In the following year he recorded his first major success when winning the Hungerford Stakes. In 2013, Lethal Force emerged as one of the leading sprinters in the world by defeating strong international fields in both the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the July Cup.

Paco Boy Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Paco Boy is a retired Irish thoroughbred racehorse who was trained by Richard Hannon Sr.. He won three Group 1 races including Prix de la Forêt, Queen Anne Stakes and Lockinge Stakes. Paco Boy was known as a hold up horse, usually coming from behind with a devastating turn of foot.

Observatory was a thoroughbred race horse. He won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, and the Prix d'Ispahan in France.

Dawn Approach Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Dawn Approach is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which began in March 2012 the colt has won all seven of his races including the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the National Stakes at the Curragh and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. He ended the 2012 European season as the year's most highly rated two-year-old colt and was regarded as a leading contender for the 2013 classics. As a three-year-old, Dawn Approach won the classic 2000 Guineas on his first appearance, going on to win the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Toronado (racehorse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Toronado is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the leading British two-year-olds of 2012 when he was undefeated in three races including the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. After winning the Craven Stakes on his three-year-old debut he came to be regarded as a leading contender for the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby. In the summer of 2013 he developed a rivalry with Dawn Approach and defeated the Irish colt to record his most important win in the Sussex Stakes. In 2014 he won the Queen Anne Stakes but was beaten by Kingman in the Sussex Stakes and by Charm Spirit in the Prix du Moulin and finished unplaced when favourite for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Magician (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Magician is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing unremarkable form as a two-year-old in 2012, he established himself as a top-class performer in May 2013 with wins in the Dee Stakes and the Irish 2000 Guineas. After a long break, he returned in November to win the Breeders' Cup Turf and a month later was voted Cartier Champion Three-year-old Colt.

Oratorio (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Oratorio is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 2004 he won four of his seven races including the Anglesey Stakes, Futurity Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère as well as finishing second in the Phoenix Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. He showed his best form when tried over a mile and a quarter in 2005, when he defeated strong international fields in the Eclipse Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes, beating The Derby winner Motivator on both occasions. He was retired to stud at the end of 2005 and has had some success as a sire of winners.

Olympic Glory Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Olympic Glory is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the leading two-year-olds in Europe in 2012 when he won the Superlative Stakes, Vintage Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. His only defeat came when he finished second to the European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Dawn Approach. He won the Greenham Stakes on his debut but ran poorly in his next race and was off the course for three months. He returned to finish second against older horses in both the Prix Jacques Le Marois and the Prix du Moulin before recording his most important success in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In the following year he won the Lockinge Stakes and the Prix de la Forêt

Toormore Thoroughbred racehorse

Toormore was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the champion two-year-old in Europe in 2013 when he was undefeated in all his races including the Vintage Stakes and Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. In 2014 he won the Craven Stakes and finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for his 7 middleham Park racing syndicate owners, Mr James Pak, Miss Lynn Douglas, Mr Peter Barker, Mr Tony Denham, Mr Keith Denham, Mr Danny Nundram & Mr Steve Studley. He returned in 2015 and was then sold to Darley Stud July 2015 for future stallion duties, going onto win the Lennox Stakes and the International Topkapi Trophy for Godolphin. In 2016 he recorded another major win in the Bet365 Mile. He was retired to stand as a stallion at the end of the 2016 season but returned to training early in 2018. He suffered a fatal injury on the gallops in Dubai 22 February 2018.

Night of Thunder (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Night of Thunder is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In May 2014, he won the 2000 Guineas. He failed to win again as a three-year-old but finished second in both the St James's Palace Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and third in the Prix du Moulin. On his four-year-old debut, he won the Lockinge Stakes.

So Factual was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was bred in Kentucky by Khalid Abdullah and sent to race in Europe where he proved to be one of the leading sprinters of his time. As a juvenile he ran three times, winning on his debut and finishing second in the Coventry Stakes. In the following year he won the European Free Handicap but was well beaten in his next two races and was then sold and sent to compete in the United Arab Emirates. In 1994 he won three races in Dubai and was then returned to Europe in the ownership of Godolphin Racing. He reached his peak as a five-year-old in 1995 when he recorded victories in the Cork and Orrery Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes. He was retired to stud at the end of the year.

Shalaa Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Shalaa is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2015 he was beaten on his debut but won his next five races including the July Stakes, Richmond Stakes, Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes. His second season was badly disrupted by injury, although he did win the Bengough Stakes.

Ribchester (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ribchester is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2015 he finished second in the Gimcrack Stakes on his second racecourse appearance and then won the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes. In 2016 he was rated the best British-trained colt of his generation and was one of the top milers in Europe, winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques Le Marois in France as well as being placed in the 2000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In 2017 he added further major victories in the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and Prix du Moulin

Ulysses (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ulysses is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old he showed very good form, winning the Gordon Stakes and finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He was even better in 2017 when he took the Gordon Richards Stakes and went on to record Group 1 victories in the Eclipse Stakes and the International Stakes.

Pips Pride was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A specialist sprinter, he won six of his thirteen races in a track career which lasted from April 1992 until September 1993. As a two-year-old he won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and the valuable Racecall Gold Trophy as well as being placed in the Middle Park Stakes, Coventry Stakes and July Stakes. In the following year he won the Leisure Stakes and the Grosser Preis von Berlin before being retired from racing at the end of the year. He made a very promising to his start career as a breeding stallion but died at the age of six.

Zoffany is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was one of the best two-year-old of 2010 in Ireland when he won five of his seven races including the Golden Fleece Stakes, Tyros Stakes and Phoenix Stakes. In the following year he failed to win a race but produced a career-best effort to run Frankel to three quarters of a length in the St James's Palace Stakes. He was retired from racing at the end of the year to become a breeding stallion and made a very promising start to his stud career.

Kew Gardens (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Kew Gardens is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed considerable promise as a juvenile in 2017 when he won two of his five races including the Zetland Stakes. In the following year he developed into a top class stayer, taking the Queen's Vase, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger. As a four-year-old he added another major win as he took the British Champions Long Distance Cup as well as finishing second in the Coronation Cup and the Irish St. Leger.

Dick Turpin (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Dick Turpin is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In three years of racing he won nine of his twenty races, showing consistent top-class form over distances of around one mile. As a two-year-old in 2009 he won the first four of his six races including the Richmond Stakes and the Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes. In the following year he won the Greenham Stakes and the Prix Jean Prat, finished second in the 2000 Guineas, Poule d'Essai des Poulains and St James's Palace Stakes and ran third in the Prix de la Forêt. As a four-year-old in 2011 he added victories in the Sandown Mile, Summer Mile Stakes and Premio Vittorio di Capua before being retired to stud at the end of the year.

Without Parole British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Without Parole, is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing promise when winning his only start as a two-year-old he progressed in the following spring, following a win in a minor race by taking the Heron Stakes and then recording his biggest win in the St James's Palace Stakes. He finished unplaced in his three subsequent starts that year.

Donjuan Triumphant is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who excelled over sprint distances. He was rated one of the best two-year-olds in Europe when he won three of his eight races including the Rockingham Stakes and the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte. He failed to win in the following year but ran second in both the Temple Stakes and the Prix Maurice de Gheest. After changing stables as a five-year-old he won the 32Red Gold Cup in 2017 and the Wentworth Stakes in 2018. In 2019 he was beaten in his first six starts but recorded his biggest win on his final racecourse appearance when he took the British Champions Sprint Stakes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Strong Suit pedigree". Equineline.
  2. 1 2 Armytage, Marcus (15 June 2010). "Royal Ascot 2010: brilliant Goldikova denies Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes a treble". Daily Telegraph .
  3. "Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale – Catalogue". Racing Post .
  4. "St Leger Yearling Sales – Catalogue". Racing Post .
  5. "Rahy stud record". Racing Post.
  6. 1 2 "Cream Cheeks – Family 6-a". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  7. "Berkshire County Blind Society Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 14 May 2010.
  8. "Coventry Stakes result". Racing Post. 15 June 2010.
  9. "2011 World Rankings" (PDF).
  10. "Breathing op for Strong Suit". Sky Sports. 22 April 2011.
  11. "Jersey Stakes result". Racing Post. 15 June 2011.
  12. "Lennox Stakes results". Racing Post. 26 July 2011.
  13. "Strong Suit takes Lennox Stakes with confident display". BBC. 26 July 2011.
  14. "Challenge Stakes result". Racing Post. 8 October 2011.
  15. "2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. January 2012.
  16. "Hungerford Stakes result". Racing Post. 18 August 2012.
  17. "Arcadia Stakes". Racing Post. 3 February 2013.
  18. "Royal Ascot Winner Strong Suit to Stud in India". Paulick Report.