Despite his reputation as a soft-ground specialist, Addeybb (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) will run in Saturday's G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown whatever the underfoot conditions, trainer William Haggas said.
A triple Group 1 winner last year, Addeybb has not been seen since returning this spring from his latest stint in Australia, where he defended his title in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and finished second in the G1 Ranvet S., both times over ground drier than his preference. Addeybb romped in last year's G1 Champion S. over the heavy Ascot going.
“He's fine and he's ready to race. We've had this in mind since he got back from Australia so we're pleased to be there,” Haggas told Sky Sports Racing. “I'd be pretty loath to take him out because he needs to race. You can't keep practising on the [Newmarket] Heath and in the nets and not get out in the middle. He needs a run.”
The Eclipse has come under some criticism this week for its small field size, but Haggas said he think it will be an intriguing clash of the generations.
“Here you've got a really top-class speedier 3-year-old [St Mark's Basilica] who's won two Classics and won the Dewhurst last year, so he's obviously a very good horse. You've got Mishriff, who won a French Derby and really excelled in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, and then our fella who keeps battling away and bashing away. He's as reliable a yardstick as you can get. If the ground came up soft, heavy in places, our chance would increase and maybe St Mark's Basilicia's wouldn't, so who knows what's going to happen.”
Haggas also provided an update on Shadwell's G3 Hampton Court S. winner Mohaafeth (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who goes next to the G2 York S. on July 24. Mohaafeth will be ridden by Dane O'Neill, with first-call stable jockey Jim Crowley required at Ascot for Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.
“We knocked the Eclipse on the head last weekend and he's going to go for the Sky Bet race at York on July 24, which is unfortunate for Jim, but good for Dane, because that's the same day as the King George,” Haggas said. “The horse that won the King Edward [Alenquer] is hopefully going for the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris on July 14, so we've got a busy few weeks coming up.”
The G1 Coronation S. runner-up Al Aasy has the option to warm up for the King George in next week's G2 Princess of Wales's S., but his trainer said it is likely he will head straight to Ascot.
“The King George is very much the plan. Whether he goes for the Princess of Wales's S., I'm not sure–I doubt it,” Haggas said. “He'll probably go straight for the King George. He worked beautifully again yesterday and is on target to go where we want him. We just have to decide whether going to Newmarket might take the edge off him for Ascot, which wouldn't be sensible. My gut feeling is he'll probably go straight to Ascot.”
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