William Haggas has cautioned punters not to underestimate the European mares at Randwick
Having seen Alcohol Free first-hand in England, rival trainer William Haggas concedes the $10 million mare has a mortgage on the Queen Of The Turf Stakes – if she brings her European form to Australia.
Haggas will start Purplepay in Saturday’s Group 1 race and while he is expecting a much-improved performance from his mare at her second local start, he says Alcohol Free is a different class of horse.
“If the Alcohol Free that was in England turns up, they won’t beat her,” Haggas said.
“The thing with Alcohol Free is she’s a top-class filly at every distance. She won the Sussex Stakes over a mile, which is a prestigious race, she won the July Cup over six furlongs. She’s a really tough, hardy, good filly.
“Purplepay won’t get within a mile of her at home.
“She has to come to Australia and it’s different, it’s new connections, new area, new place. But if she turns up in good form, she will win.”
Now with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Alcohol Free will make her Sydney debut in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) where she is an easing $3.50 favourite.
Haggas’ Purplepay has been specked from $41 into $34 and he says she is a much better horse than her unplaced effort in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) suggests.
Her team has since employed a few tactics to get Purplepay to focus and after watching her work at Canterbury on Wednesday, the UK trainer says he is “delighted” with her form.
“I think she has been pulling our leg a bit. I don’t think she raced at all first time on the (firm) ground and the jockey very kindly looked after her when he realised she couldn’t win,” Haggas said.
“She is a better filly than that, but we’ve had a little bit of a wake-up call since that race.
“She does like the wet ground but she’s a 33-1 shot and rightfully so.”
Tom Marquand will partner Purplepay from barrier 14, while James Mcdonald links with Alcohol Free, who has drawn ideally in gate two.
