Four horses trained by William Haggas are in good form in advance of planned starts in Australia in the coming weeks.
Competing on Saturday are Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables colourbearer Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who will run in the 1500-metre G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens.
“They're lovely people and this filly came to us by accident really,” said Haggas, who has already saddled three-time Australian Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) Down Under. “She was bought to go to the States and then missed her flight and didn't go to the States, so they sent her to us, which is terrific.”
Joining the G2 Prix de Sandringham heroine who was also third in the G1 Criterium Internationa is Protagonist (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who will compete in the G3 Sky High S. over 2000 metres for Australian Bloodstock.
Haggas added, “Protagonist was bought privately by Australian Bloodstock after they sent us Earl Of Tyrone (Ire) (Australia {GB}). He was previously owned by Michael Buckley, owner of Constitution Hill (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}).
Earl Of Tyrone is bound for the Mar. 25 G1 Tancred S. or the Apr. 8 G1 Sydney Cup. Rounding out the quartet is Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) for Mohamed Obaida, who is being aimed at the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill on Mar. 18.
Haggas added, “We got very lucky. They all had a good trip and seem in good form. The one thing that I was concerned about was the weather and I've been right so far in that all the horses we sent want a bit of cut in the ground. It's been a very hot spell so far and the ground is quick. There's nothing I can do about the weather.
“The plan is to run Dubai Honour next week at Rosehill in the Ranvet S. and Earl of Tyrone will either go for the Tancred S. on the 25th Mar. or straight for the Sydney Cup on the 8th Apr.”
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