Has fortune shined upon Newmarket trainer William Haggas, or has he done his homework on his first campaign to The Championships when Addeybb took out the Gr1 Ranvet Stakes and Young Rascal the Gr3 N E Manion Cup at the Golden Slipper Carnival.
Ironically both horses were ridden by emerging British star Tom Marquand, and both appreciated the Soft 4 rated Rosehill Garden track, the ‘going’ of their most notable victories.
Addeybb and Young Rascal have successful extended racing careers, with noted extended let-ups between sets of races, a high win-to-run success and first-up wins.
More so, both race in identical jockey colours with Addeybb having Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s yellow with black epaulette silks, and Young Rascal in yellow silks with royal blue epaulettes.
William Haggas trains out of his Somerville Lodge in Newmarket, England and is no stranger to success in having won the Epsom Derby with Ahaamit in 1966 and the Epsom Oaks and British Championships Fillies & Mares Stakes with Dancing Rain in 2011.
Again with Tom Marquand in the saddle Addeybb is $4.20 second equal-favourite for the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes of 2000m, with the Japanese visitor Damon Premium as the $3.60 favourite.
Addeybb’s Ranvet victory came first-up following a 20-week spell having run second to Magical in the British Championships Champion Stakes. Earlier last year he won both the Rose of Lancaster Stakes and Wolverton Stakes.
Unraced at two years, Addeybb won three of his five starts up to 1800m at three-years, before winning twice as a four-year-old including the Sandown Mile.
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock he is by the successful sire Pivotal, by Polar Falcon, and is from the winning Kingmambo mare Bush Cat, the family of Group 2 winning sire Nicholas.
Young Rascal comes into the Schweppes Sydney Cup as the $2.50 favourite, following his half-length victory in the 2400m Manion Cup, with Mustajeer the $5.00 second select and Raheen House on $8.00.
Carrying 56kg, and to be ridden by Tom Marquand for owner Bernard Kantor, who as former head of the Investec Bank sponsor the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks at the Epsom Investec Spring meeting.
Young Rascal went into the Manion Cup following a 15-week spell having run ninth to the Japanese top-liner Glory Vase in the Hong Kong Vase, having previously won the Floodlit Stakes at Kempton Park when ridden by Tom Marquand.
Showing classical potential in winning the Chester Vase of 2400m, Young Rascal went onto to finish seventh to Masar in the Investec Derby. On resuming he both the Legacy Cup and St Simon Stakes at Newbury, having been previously second in his only start at two years.
Now a five-year-old, by Galileo’s successful French Derby winner Intello who stands at Haras du Quesnay, Young Rascal is from the stakes winner Rock My Seoul, a half-sister to the black type winners Rock My Love and Rock My Heart.
Also on target for Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes success is Japan’s Danon Premium, who comes into The Championships having defeated the Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux in the Kinko Sho of 2000m.
Trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida for owners Danox Co Ltd, Danon Premium also won the Yomiuri Milers Cup last year before finishing second when favourite in the Mile Championship at Kyoto.
Voted the Best Two-Year-Old Colt in 2017 on winning the Asahi Hai Futurity and Saudi Arabia Royal Cup, Danon Premium had an interrupted classic season in winning the Yayoi Sho of 2000m, a major Japanese 2000 Guineas trial, from only two starts.
Now the $3.60 race favourite, and to be ridden by inform James McDonald, Danon Premium was bred by K I Farm, being by Sunday Silence’s legendary son Deep Impact from the Irish stakes winner Indiana Gal, a daughter of the Queen Anne Stakes winner Intikhab.
