Highlands Stud part of Ridgemont’s well performed new stallion Canford Cliffs had an afternoon to remember this past weekend when responsible for a trio of European winners on Saturday.
The son of Tagula’s treble kicked off with his four-year-old daughter Vue Du Ciel, who scored a courageous win in a handicap at Deauville early Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Cedric Rossi, Vue Du Ciel was scoring for a first time and she dug down deep to earn a neck decision at the expense of longshot Mustanga.
She was produced by the unraced A P Indy mare Al Ribh.
Canford Cliffs’ second European winner on Saturday came when his Cliffs Of Capri caused a 12-1 upset to win the Longines Handicap, on the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes card at Ascot.
The Jamie Osborne trained gelding stayed on well to land the 1400m contest by two lengths and earn his fourth win from 11 outings.
The Canford Cliffs treble was completed when his 3yo gelded son Praeceps romped to a facile three and a quarter length win for Sir Mark Prescott and jockey Luke Morris at Salisbury’s evening meeting.
Praeceps, who was produced by the Sadler’s Wells mare Sliding Scale, was winning for a first time, having finished third at his previous outing.
One of the best performed stallions ever to come to South Africa, Canford Cliffs, whose son Salouen ran fourth in Saturday’s G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, won seven of just 11 outings and just a shade under £1 000 000 in stakes.
A winner at the Royal Ascot meeting three years running, Canford Cliffs’ five G1 wins were the Lockinge Stakes, Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes.
The sire of more than 20 stakes horses (and counting!), Canford Cliffs traces back in female line to French 1000 Guineas winner Diavolezza.