William Haggas has struck again in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes as Dubai Honour ran away with the Group 1 event under Tom Marquand.
Ever since claiming the Ranvet Stakes, the race had been set up as a match-race between Dubai Honour and reigning Cox Plate champion Anamoe, but on race day, it was no match with Dubai Honour running clear over the 2000m.
Despite settling in the second-half of the field, Tom Marquand had Dubai Honour building through his gears and on the back of Anamoe on the home turn.
Even with Anamoe gaining the perfect run in transit in the one-one, the superstar from Godolphin was no match for the eventual winner, eventually being beaten into second by Mo’unga.
However, it was all honours the winner as Dubai Honour recorded William Haggas’ third win in the race after training Addeybb to success in 2020 & 2021, also ridden by Marquand.
2023 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Replay – Dubai Honour
With Hong Kong on the radar for Dubai Honour, Haggas was full of praises for his superstar five-year-old gelding.
“We’re very keen to go to Hong Kong now on the way home and run him at the end of Day 4 in the QEII. Then we’ll take him back to England and regroup. As far as I’m concerned he’s done his job today,” said Haggas.
“He relaxed very well and I knew when he relaxed well he would pick up and he picked up well.
“Anamoe is a great horse, take nothing away from him, but this horse has come forward for being here and he’s won well today.
“Don’t underestimate him, he’s a pretty good horse. He was never quite right last year, he was boxing against some good horses, top top horses.”
Tom Marquand now joins Nash Rawiller with three wins in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“I was going off what everyone else was telling me, I’ve haven’t had the chance to sit on him really,” said Marquand.
“For the boss (William Haggas) to target the Queen Elizabeth with another horse and pull it off, it’s just insane.
“Genuinely, I’ve jumped aboard this horse on the right day at the right time and it’s everyone else behind it that got the job done, not me.
“All I had to do was point and shoot. A huge well done to the team.”
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