The Group I ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill produced a titanic battle between star local mare Verry Elleegant and British raider Addeybb (IRE), who stuck his head out when it counted to score his first Group I win.
Sent out from the UK by his trainer William Haggas for the $4million Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2000m) next month, Addeybb showed he would be the horse to beat in that race with this super tough performance.
Taken to the front by Tom Marqand and well rated, Addeybb had plenty of fight left for the finish.
He refused to surrender when challenged by Verry Elleegant, who failed by half a length with last year’s winner of the race Avilius a distant third some five lengths back.
“I give huge credit to Tom (Marquand) as he’s very strong and he really knows our horses,” said stable representative Harry Eustace, whose brother David is co-trainer with Ciaron Maher.
The same trainer and jockey combination were successful earlier in the day with Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello) taking out the Group II ATC Manion Cup (2400m) with a similar tough front running effort that will now have him well favoured for his grand final, the $2million Group I ATC Sydney Cup (3200m).
“These horses are here for the two runs so they still have improvement to come,” Eustace added.
A Group III winner in the UK last year, Addeybb was last seen finishing second to Magic Wand in the Group I Champion Stakes at Ascot in October last year, form that makes him look well placed for our weight-for-age races in the post Winx era.
One of 150 stakes-winners for outstanding sire Pivotal, Addeybb is the best of six winners from Kingmambo mare Bush Cat. He has the imposing record of eight wins and four placings from 16 starts.
