Two months after his starring role during the Sydney autumn carnival, English-trained Addeybb is ready to take on the best at Royal Ascot.
Addeybb is among a final field of seven that has been declared for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday.
Trained out of Newmarket by William Haggas, Addeybb will clash with Aidan O’Brien’s brilliant galloper Japan in what is tipped to be a high-quality contest over 2000m.
Addeybb will be stepping out for the first time since winning over the same distance in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the principal weight-for-age race of the Sydney autumn.
A first-up 2000m winner in Australia in the Group One Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, Addeybb was in even better form when trouncing his rivals at Randwick.
English jockey Tom Marquand teamed with Addeybb in Sydney and he will keep the Prince of Wales’s ride.
Marquand rode in Australia during the northern hemisphere off-season and in next to no time he attracted the attention of some of Australia’s best stables.
Addeybb is at a general quote of $10 to make a winning return to UK racing with O’Brien’s Juddmonte International winner Japan rated the horse to beat.
Japan was last seen finishing fourth behind Waldgeist in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October.
John Gosden has two representatives in the shape of Brigadier Gerard Stakes hero Lord North and the filly Mehdaayih, whose efforts last season included a runner-up finish in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
James Doyle, who has also ridden with success in Australia, has the mount on Lord North with Frankie Dettori to partner Mehdaayih.
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Charlie Appleby runs Barney Roy, first-up from a Dubai campaign, for Godolphin.
Roger Charlton’s Headman has two Group Two wins to his name and seeks a first Group One triumph, while Andrew Balding will saddle Bangkok.
Among the 20-strong field for the Windsor Castle Stakes are two runners for American trainer Wesley Ward, with Dettori aboard Sunshine City and Oisin Murphy booked for Sheriff Bianco.
The five-day Royal Ascot extravaganza will be held behind closed doors because of coronavirus biosecurity measures.
