DRY TRACK FEARS FOR ADDEYBB
TRAINER William Haggas has issued a blunt warning about Addeybb’s chances of successfully defending his $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes crown at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“Addeybb is nowhere near as good on a dry track,’’ Haggas told The Courier-Mail from his Newmarket stables in England.
“If it wasn’t so far away I’d probably consider not running him but there is nothing we can do about the weather.’’
Addeybb won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes by nearly three lengths from Verry Elleegant last year on a track rated a heavy 8 but he won’t have anything like those conditions on Saturday.
The Randwick track surface was rated a soft 5 late yesterday and with fine weather forecast for the rest of this week, it is expected to be in the good range for Sydney’s richest autumn carnival race.
Haggas said despite concerns about the relatively firm Randwick surface Addeybb will be given his chance to win successive Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.
Addeybb was among eight final acceptors for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Day Two of The Championships.
Rosehill Guineas winner Mo’unga is the only three-year-old in the race. Group 1 winners Think It Over (George Ryder Stakes) and Samadoubt (Winx Stakes) will start, along with All Star
Mile winner Mugatoo and Doncaster Mile placegetter Dalasan.
Small fields in weight-for-age races usually develop into a tactical battle between the jockeys but Samadoubt’s inclusion should ensure the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is run at a genuine tempo as he is a noted leader.
But Haggas said there is no ambiguity about how Tom Marquand will ride Addeybb.
“Addeybb goes forward, he will lead or sit just off the speed and he doesn’t drop out,’’ the trainer said.