International raiders step out at Canterbury ahead of Golden Eagle next week

William Haggas has won three Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney’s autumn but now he’s got his sights on the Golden Eagle.

Lake Forest, the latest English raider for three-time Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner William Haggas, has been quick to adapt Down Under as his quest for the $10m Golden Eagle (1500m) prepares to ramp up.

The Haggas-trained campaigner was one of four international Golden Eagle contenders who underwent light workouts on the course proper at Canterbury Park on Tuesday morning.

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Golden Eagle favourite Ascoli Piceno and fellow Japanese campaigner Corazon Beat also stepped out as well as unbeaten French weapon Lazzat.

Haggas’ carnival contenders have been regular visitors throughout the Sydney Autumn Carnival but Lake Forest is preparing to give the stable their maiden Golden Eagle runner at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday week.

“Lake Forest is really good,” travelling foreperson Issy Paul said.

“He hasn’t left a single nut since he’s been here and his weight been great.

“On the flight he only lost 4kg and he put them back on anyway.

“He’s training well and thinks it’s all great so we are very happy with him.”

LAKE FOREST

Haggas has had success in Sydney in recent times with dual Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Addeybb as well as Dubai Honour, Young Rascal, Post Impressionist and Favourite Moon.

Lake Forest is a very different galloper to those he has brought to Australia in the past.

Still a three-year-old by Northern Hemisphere standards, the son of Nay No Never was been raced over shorter sprint trips throughout his nine start career.

He was a winner of a Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes (1207m) at York last year while he was second in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June this year.

“He is pretty fast when he wants to be but he is a nice laid-back horse,” Paul said.

“Although he has only won over 1200m, we are hoping he will give himself to stay the 1500m.

“The fact he is laid-back and can come off the pace, but he is incredibly fast, will hopefully hold him in good stead.”

ASCOLI PICENO

LAZZAT

The Haggas stable will ramp up Lake Forest work later this week and use a similar formula to what they have in past visits to Australia next week.

“We will do a bit more work on Thursday and I tend to do it with all them, jump them out of the gates the week of the race,” Paul said.

“Unusually on Tuesday or Wednesday to switch them on a bit and let them know it’s game time after they’ve been spoiled for two weeks.

“Cieren Fallon arrives on Sunday night so hopefully we will get him in there to do that.

“He had been running in the UK so we don’t need to go made with him, not that we do with any of ours anyway.”

Cieren Fallon, the son of former superstar rider Kieren Fallon, will be in Australia to ride Lake Forest in the feature event.

Originally published as International raiders step out at Canterbury ahead of Golden Eagle next week