His respect for Australian racing and Anamoe tempers English jockey Tom Marquand’s confidence as he looks to win a third Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Twice Marquand was in the saddle when Addeybb lowered the colours of Australia’s best at the time, Verry Elleegent, and this year’s raider, Dubai Honour, draws comparisons to William Haggas’ stablemate.
Dubai Honour races away to win the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill last month.Credit:Getty
Dubai Honour meets Anamoe, a nine-time group 1 winner which includes the Cox Plate in six top-level wins this season, in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes after, like Addeybb, making a statement of intent in the Ranvet Stakes.
“He put himself in the same bracket as Addeybb winning like that [in the Ranvet Stakes] at Rosehill,” Marquand said. “He is probably a little bit more flash and forward than Addeybb’s style.
“If you look at Dubai Honour’s profile it is pretty similar to Addeybb’s before coming here to Australia. They had both run second in the Champions Stakes at Ascot and their best form was on soft ground. Now they have both won a Ranvet Stakes.”
Marquand watched the Ranvet Stakes from England after breaking a shoulder in a fall a Randwick in February, but he was always going to take over from Ryan Moore as Haggas’ stable jockey.
It is a job he earned by riding Addeybb in Australia in 2020 before returning to win it again in 2021, when he was dubbed “Aussie Tom”.
He knows and respects Australian racing, and he knows it’s not going to be easy to beat Anamoe.
“He seems like the type of horse that you put a bunch of group 3 horses in front of him, he will beat them – and he will do the same against group 1 horses,” Marquand said.
“You just have to give a lot of respect. He doesn’t look insanely good winning by big spaces, but to underestimate what he can actually do would be silly.
“He is a champion and he has proved it, and he will be very tough to beat. If Dubai Honour can repeat the Rosehill performance he is going to be right there with a chance beating him.
“I really enjoy coming down here riding Australian horses for Australian trainers but the reason I come down here is that William [Haggas] sends down a team for the carnival and for this race in particular.”
Dubai Honour had been $11 before his romp in the Ranvet, but with Haggas’ history in Australia, he is into a $2.50 equal favourite with Anamoe. Japanese visitor Unicorn Lion is next in betting at $11.
“We have always thought he would be better on soft ground, so to see him do that on fast ground was very encouraging,” Marquand said.
“He really surprised me how well he killed the race so quickly in the Ranvet on firm ground. He has obviously enjoyed his time down here.
“I don’t think it will be any faster than a soft 6, and as I said he might go even better on soft ground.”
Doncaster winner Mr Brightside will not back up in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with Ben and JD Hayes opting to spell him with a view to the spring and possibly a trip to Hong Kong at the end of the year.
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