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Haggas Hoping For Rain Down Under

Trainer William Haggas said his team in Australia is “really happy” with G1 Champion S. winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) ahead of the 7-year-old's defense of his G1 Queen Elizabeth S. title at Randwick on Saturday, and that he thinks some rainfall will help the gelding turn the tables on star local mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), who beat him first up in the G1 Ranvet S. on Mar. 27, which Addeybb also won last year.

“They are really happy with him, but we could do with some rain. I've seen differing forecasts,” said Haggas. “I think there's improvement in him, I just don't think he went through his last race with any gusto whereas normally he's a very strong traveller. He still fought in the straight, but it took him an age to get by the leader where usually he zips by and says to the others 'come and get me'. Tom [Marquand] said he was rusty and I thought the foot [an injury scare shortly before the race] affected him. He very nearly didn't run, but he was improving all the time so he did run.”

Addeybb, too, will have an equipment change on Saturday.

“We're putting a pair of half-blinkers on him which I've been wanting to do for a bit,” Haggas said. “He's had cheekpieces on a while now. Tom rode him the other day in blinkers and said he felt much sharper, but I said he would do because his feet are fine and he's had a race so he will be sharper. I did say to him though, it was his call, I'm 12,000 miles away and if you want to put them on then do so. We do need rain, though, because he's not as good on good to firm.”

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Australia: Addeybb, Verry Elleegant Rivalry Heats Up On Day Two Of The Championships At Randwick

Day Two of “The Championships” at Randwick promises to deliver some unforgettable racing theater, as one of the sport's greatest international rivalries reaches its climax in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1). Sky Racing World's racing expert Jason Witham will be trackside at Randwick for live crosses to the TVG broadcast (First Post: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT).

English stayer Addeybb first visited Australia in March of 2020, engaging top Australian mare Verry Elleegant in an exhilarating edition of the Ranvet Stakes. Addeybb fought back to win after being headed, then more easily had Verry Elleegant's measure in the Queen Elizabeth. Combat was renewed in this year's Ranvet (watch replay), when a similar stirring, stretch-long duel ensued. Verry Elleegant turned the tables and now looks to even the score in Friday night's eagerly anticipated Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/4 miles.

Horse racing is replete with storied rivalries – many American fans would vote for Affirmed-Alydar as the greatest – but how many involve older horses of both sexes with an international element? My mind went to repeat European Breeders' Cup champions Miesque and Goldikova as possible protagonists, but neither mare had a regular American adversary.

In discussing the matter with decorated author and history buff, Jay Privman, a similarity came to light: Privman suggested Estrapade and Theatrical. Both began their careers in Europe, but Estrapade was firmly ensconced in Charlie Whittingham's barn when she encountered the Dermot Weld-trained Theatrical in the 1986 Arlington Million. The pair raced as an entry, due to Allen Paulson's common ownership, but Theatrical saw little of Estrapade as the mare streaked to a brilliant win. They became better acquainted as Estrapade topped an exacta finish in the Oak Tree Invitational, by which time Theatrical had been transferred to Bobby Frankel. Theatrical then led a 2-3 finish (behind Manila) in the Breeders' Cup Turf, before leveling the head-to-head score as the pair ran 3rd and 6th in the Hollywood Turf Cup. That proved to be Estrapade's final race, and she was subsequently crowned America's Champion Female Turf Horse of 1986. An equivalent honor awaited Theatrical, who would become America's Champion Male Turf Horse of 1987 (following yet another trainer change – this time to a young Bill Mott).

Having to sift through 35 years of history to uncover an analogous rivalry makes it easy to realize the uniqueness of what Addeybb and Verry Elleegant are currently providing global racing fans. Seven-year-old Addeybb didn't reach the peak of his powers until last season, which he capped by winning the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot to earn a tie for 3rd in the Global Thoroughbred Rankings. Verry Elleegant has reeled off five Group One wins as a 5-year-old and is the presumptive Australian Horse of the Year for the 2020/21 season. Appropriately, the pair share Queen Elizabeth favoritism (at 8-5) and will occupy adjoining stalls in Randwick's starting gate.

The example of Estrapade and Theatrical amounted to one exacta finish. Verry Elleegant and Addeybb are already 3-for-3 in that category, which surely makes this rivalry unrivaled.

Addeyb's trainer, William Haggas, hopes to be shooting for a Group One double in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, after Favorite Moon contests the preceding race, the $2 million Sydney Cup. The lightly raced 4-year-old won his Australian debut three weeks ago at 1 1/2 miles, and will be tested at two miles in just his 10th career start. Like Addeybb, Favorite Moon shares favoritism with a mare he raced last start. Realm of Flowers put forth an outstanding effort to get within a neck of Favorite Moon off a wide trip, and is proven at the Sydney Cup's marathon distance. The pair are co-favorites at 5-1, an example of the tremendous wagering value to be enjoyed in Australian racing.

Another Group One stamina test is carded on Friday night, as 3-year-old fillies contest the $1 million Australian Oaks at 1 1/2 miles. Harmony Rose (5-2) tries to reverse a narrow loss to Hungry Heart (4-1) in a G1 race two weeks ago. Montefilia (3-1) is on an even quicker turnaround, after finishing 4th as favorite in last week's Australian Derby. Amarelinha (5-1) is a scary new face, bringing a 7:5-2-0 record from New Zealand, where she most recently won the NZ Oaks. Regardless of who appears in the winner's circle following Friday night's Australian Oaks, connections will be hoping their filly can emulate the career of 2019 Oaks winner, Verry Elleegant. Owners of the runner-up can also take heart, as the 2015 Australian Oaks was the final defeat experienced by Winx. Incredibly, the last of Winx's world-famous streak of 33 victories occurred on the corresponding day four years later, when she won her third consecutive Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the same card as Verry Elleegant's Australian Oaks. “The Championships,” indeed.

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm, Kembla Grange and Gold Coast. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.

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Australia: Four Group 1 Races Friday Night In The Championships At Randwick

Australia's equivalent of the Breeders' Cup commences this Friday night, as Day One of “The Championships” at Randwick features a quartet of rich Group One races. Sky Racing World's racing expert Jason Witham will be trackside at Randwick for live crosses to the TVG broadcast (First Post: 9:35pm ET / 6:35pm PT).

Just as America's season-defining event takes place in the Fall, a couple of months before the season concludes, The Championships fall within Sydney's “Autumn Racing Carnival” a few months before the end of the Southern Hemisphere racing season. Like the Breeders' Cup, The Championships is a two-day event, except the two days are staged a week apart. More than $21 million in purses are up for grabs across the next two Friday nights, and each day of The Championships features an eagerly awaited rematch. Next week's Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be the culmination of a pulsating rivalry between Australian mare Verry Elleegant and English stayer Addeybb. In the meantime, two world-class sprinters will knock heads again this Friday night in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes (Race 8).

Nature Strip, Australia's reigning Horse of the Year, is 5-2 favorite to repeat in the $2.5 million equivalent of the Breeders' Cup Sprint. However, he will need to overturn a narrow loss five weeks ago to the rejuvenated Eduardo (7-2). The pair knuckled out a thrilling finish in track record time for five furlongs at Randwick (watch replay), and the stage is set for Friday's rematch at six furlongs. Eduardo is a lightly raced 7-year-old who had shown flashes of promise at Group level. In the 12 months since transferring to Joe Pride, a trainer who has worked wonders with older “tried” horses, Eduardo has blossomed to the point that Pride believes “he's the best sprinter in Australia and might be the best sprinter in the world.” While Nature Strip has been trained up to the TJ Smith by Chris Waller, Eduardo scored a runaway win in a 5-1/2 furlong G1 race two weeks ago.

Nature Strip's rider, James McDonald, sits on the cusp of becoming the youngest jockey to reach 50 Group One wins and could achieve the feat in the first feature race of The Championships. The 29-year-old New Zealander has the mount on Godolphin colt Anamoe, 6-5 favorite for the Sires Produce (Race 6). The seven-furlong distance will be ideal for the son of Street Boss, whose runner-up performance in the Golden Slipper was exceptional from a horror post position draw. The $1 million Sires Produce provides an enticing blend of Golden Slipper participants and fresh faces, with potential to excel over increasing distances.

Increased distance is also the theme for 3-year-olds contesting the $2 million Australian Derby (Race 7). This test of stamina at 1-1/2 miles has two traditional prep races, each at 1-1/4 miles. Last week's G2 Tulloch Stakes has produced the past four Derby winners, but its trifecta horses (Yaletown, Prompt Prodigy and Young Werther) are all double-digit odds. The G1 Rosehill Guineas is perceived to be the stronger prep this year, providing three of the top four contenders in Derby wagering. Montefilia (5-2 favorite) will strive to become only the 10th filly to capture the Australian Derby, and already boasts a Group One victory against colts – one of her two G1 successes at Randwick early this season. Montefilia's 3rd-place finish in the Rosehill Guineas was full of merit, considering it was just her second run this campaign and the race had been delayed a week. Guineas runner-up Skylab (4-1) is yet another strong mount for James McDonald, while Lion's Roar (8-1) stays under notice after a checkered passage in the same race.

A notable absentee from the Australian Derby is Rosehill Guineas winner Mo'unga. Fresh off celebrating her first Group One success, trainer Annabel Neasham has decided to bring her star colt back in distance to the mile of the $3 million Doncaster Handicap (Race 9). However, the 3-year-old's chances were dealt a blow when drawing post position 19 in the capacity field of 20. Consequently, Mo'unga's odds have drifted to 7-1 but 3-year-olds have a good record in the Doncaster under its handicap conditions. Mo'unga will carry 14 pounds less than co-highweight and favorite Mugatoo (7-2). Just as the “50 Group One” milestone is imminent for James McDonald, Mugatoo's jockey Hugh Bowman is two short of becoming the third Australian rider to amass 100 Group One wins. Bowman, who has the great Winx to thank for significantly bolstering his total, has engagements in each feature race this Friday. Apart from the Doncaster favorite, he bears watching on 4-1 shot Bivouac in the TJ Smith Stakes and 7-1 chance Tiger of Malay in the Sires Produce.

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:35pm ET / 6:35pm PT) alongside cards from Doomben, Newcastle and Gold Coast. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

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‘Like Getting A Horse From Mars’: Breeders’ Cup Winner Bulletin To Make Australian Debut

The 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin is preparing to make his Australian debut this Saturday at Randwick Racecourse, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. A 4-year-old son of City Zip, the colt is now trained by Gai Waterhouse and will start in the A$125,000 (about US$97,200) Heineken H. over 1200 meters (six furlongs).

Post time will be 12:20 a.m. Eastern on Saturday morning.

Bulletin broke his maiden on debut in the listed Hollywood Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park, while trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by the partnership of China Horse Club, WinStar Farm, and SF Racing. Following his 2 3/4-length triumph in the Breeders' Cup, Bulletin won the listed Palisades Turf Sprint to kick off his 3-year-old campaign. He has not found the winner's circle since, however, despite switching to the barn of Steve Asmussen for two starts in 2020.

Bulletin hasn't raced since a second-place effort in a Churchill allowance race on June 12, 2020, but did finish second in a pair of barrier trials at Randwick ahead of the Heineken. He is now campaigned by the China Horse Club and Australia's Newgate Stud Farm.

Waterhouse said the colt has finally acclimated to Australian-style racing and weather, and should give a good account of himself on Saturday.

“I once had a very famous trainer say to me 'you don't ask much about the horse', and I said 'well it's like an upside-down cake, what you did in the northern hemisphere doesn't count in Australia,” Waterhouse told the Sydney Morning Herald. “The climate and the conditions of racing and everything about it is so dramatically different. It's like you're getting the horse from Mars.”

Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald.

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