The William Haggas trained Addeybb is looking to turn the tables down under on Saturday with Verry Elleegant as the pair do battle in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
The seven year old over a year ago went over to Australia for the first time in his career and at the back end of March 2020 became a black type winner for the first time when taking the Ranvet Stakes on his first start down under.
The big target whilst Addeybb was over there was to race in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes and on April 11th, with the rain bringing his favoured soft ground, he went on to take the contest with ease.
Since coming back over to the UK, he made his seasonal debut in the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and he finished a decent second to the stand alone winner Lord North.
Haggas explained that he needed a run before heading to Ascot and was seen earlier this month when taking the Listed Doonside Cup, blowing away the cobwebs.
It looked a perfect prep run and with Magical, who beat him last year in the Group One race since winning another Group One, the form of the 2019 Champion Stakes looked superb.
Addeybb then went into the Champion Stakes looking to reverse some form and with the rain coming the gelding was an emphatic winner of the race, going on to land the third Group One of his career, seeing off a field full of top quality rivals.
Back in Australia for another campaign he headed to Rosehill at the end of March and finished a close second to Verry Elleegant in the Group One Ranvet Stakes, but Haggas believes if getting rain and changing his headgear, he could turn the tables on Saturday.
(Credit ATR) “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 affected him. He very nearly didn’t run, but it he was improving all the time so he did run.
“We’re putting a pair of half-blinkers on him which I’ve been wanting to do for a bit. 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.”