Canford Cliffs came, saw and conquered for a third time at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.  The Richard Hannon trained colt defeated French heroine Goldikova in a thrilling renewal of the G1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Canford Cliffs (4c Tagula – Mrs Marsh by Marju) was a breathtaking six length winner of the G2 Coventry Stakes at the Royal meeting in 2009 and he added the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes last year.

A son of Rathbarry Stud stallion Tagula, he will be pencilled in to shuttle south at the conclusion of his racing career.  Coolmore associates Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith race him in partnership with the Heffer Syndicate.

“He’s got a very high cruising speed and a great turn of foot,” Hannon said.  “He’s a very special horse to us.”

Goldikova settled right behind her pacemaker Flash Dance and Canford Cliffs shadowed the champion mare until the favoured pair settled down to a duel in the final furlong.

Goldikova (Anabaa) got the better of Hannon’s colt Paco Boy in the Queen Anne 12 months ago but Canford Cliffs made amends for the stable this year.

Apart from his Royal Ascot triumphs, Canford Cliffs has also won the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh and G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

He went into the Queen Anne on the back of a first-up victory in the G1 Lockinge Stakes Newbury on May 14.

Canford Cliffs is from unraced mare Mrs Marsh.  She has a 2yo colt named Mayo Lad (Holy Roman Emperor) and a yearling colt by Excellent Art.