Strong Suit back to himself in Jersey Richard Hughes and Richard Hannon won the Group Three Jersey Stakes with Strong Suit. Strong Suit, the winner of the Coventry Stakes 12 months ago, had disappointed on his seasonal reappearance in the Greenham, after which connections opted to give the son of Rahy a breathing operation. Hughes had his charge at the head of the chasing pack - far more prominent than usual - as Utley cut out the early running in first time blinkers. Strong Suit, who was giving weight away all round looked set to be score readily before wandering slightly off a true line. However, Hughes soon had him back on a true line and the three year old ran on well to score by half a length. The well backed favourite Codemaster tried hard to close the gap but couldn't get past whilst Western Aristocrat came from a long way back to flash home in third. Hannon said: "We took him to the Greenham and Hughesie said he didn't feel right so we put a camera on him and found the problem. "We took him to Kempton to work with Canford Cliffs the other day and he worked brilliant. "He had a 5lb penalty there and has done a very good job of it really. A mile wouldn't worry him." Hughes added: "I knew how good he was when he won the Coventry and I think he definitely did it (got the breathing problem) in Ireland last year. "He stopped like somebody shot him but we scoped him and he was perfect. "We were all scratching our heads and he never seemed the same. His work in the spring was OK but after the Greenham we got the camera on him and that revealed exactly how bad he was suffering. "Whoever has operated on him has done a great job. "He was flowing today, which he couldn't when his breathing was affecting him. He moved brilliantly." Regarding future plans for the winner, assistant trainer Richard Hannon junior said: "He's got to go a mile now so we'll probably look at something like the Prix Jacques le Marois. "All those big mile races are possible. We've got to go the Group One route with him now." Codemaster's trainer, Henry Candy, said: "He has done absolutely nothing wrong. "The horse of Richard's looked fantastic and is a very good horse. Mine lacks a bit of size, but I think he'll get another furlong. We haven't decided anything yet." Noseda added of the third home: "He's still immature and maybe I'll drop him to a conditions race over a mile next time to learn a bit more. "He has proved he's Group class so maybe in the autumn he'll show he can win Group races."
