They came, they saw, they conquered – the William Haggas-trained Addeybb (GB) backed up his fighting win in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on March 21 with a two and three-quarter length romp in Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
When the top-class Japanese visitor Danon Premium (JPN) chimed into the race at the 300 metres it looked as if we were in for a thriller. But just as he did at Rosehill, Addeybb (GB) found another gear under Tom Marquand and he clearly relished the ground while Danon Premium (JPN) began to struggle.
After running nearly a length clear of Verry Elleegant, Danon Premium (JPN) finished a long-neck behind the New Zealand-bred mare at the finish.
Travelling foreman Harry Eustace said it was the culmination of a long-range plan by Haggas.
“Since June last year, he (Haggas) thought this was the right horse,” Eustice said.
“Getting a bit of soft ground at this time of year for The Championships, to pull it off, it’s just fantastic.
“If we had more rain, he would have won by further I’d say.
“A lot of time and effort goes into a win like this, from everyone back home, our trackwork rider and Tom [Marquand] who gave him an absolute peach.
“I didn’t think he would win by that far, it’s such a deep field and I thought it would be a real nail biter to the finish.
“He ran all the way through the line in the Ranvet and did the same here today. It was an easy watch the last 50m, but we had a bit of a shout before then.”
Tom Marquand has had a remarkable run of success in Australia but will return home next Saturday.
“I think a lot of people are underestimating how much this means to me,” Marquand said.
“I’m very young and hopefully have quite a long time ahead of me in the saddle, but to come down here and win a QEII on an English horse, for someone who has given me a lot of support, at a time that has been tough for English racing, it could not mean any more.
“I feel I had my dream day a few weeks ago but today I was kind of thinking Addeybb would be vulnerable and Young Rascal would be the one to get me out of jail.
“But what a tough, straightforward, genuine horse.
“He just switches off, knows when to turn it on, and he just drops his head and runs for you and you don’t even have to ask him. It’s an honour to ride a horse like that.”
The 6yo son of Pivotal advances his record to 9 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 17 starts with earnings the equivalent of $2,712,340.
One of 31 Group 1 winners by Cheveley Park Stud stalwart Pivotal, Addeybb (GB) is the best of six winners out of the Kingmambo mare Bush Cat who is a half-sister to the stakes-winners Busha and Rip ‘N’ Run out of the stakes-winning Danzig mare Arbusha.
