Trainer William Haggas says ‘fresh legs’ can see Lake Forest can make an impact in 2024 Golden Eagle
Lake Forest’s preparation for the $10 million Golden Eagle consists of just two starts this year … but who would doubt English training maestro William Haggas, given his recent Sydney record?
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The English maestro, William Haggas, can be as quick-witted as his horses are fleet of foot.
“I was watching the show that you do with Greg (Radley) and I thought ‘Christ what am I doing sending the horse over there’,’’ he said.
Haggas was referring to last week’s Fly Like An Eagle episode on Sky Thoroughbred Central in which we highlighted the international runners – including Lake Forest – in the $10 million James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Lake Forest is rated only a $21 chance in a star-studded Golden Eagle field that includes eight individual Group 1 winners.
Haggas, in his understated very English way, isn’t one to talk up his chances.
It was almost like he was trying to deflect attention away from Lake Forest, just like his days when he would deftly turn the ball behind square leg as the opening batsman and captain of Harrow’s First XI against Eton during their annual clash at Lord’s, the home of cricket.
But the champion English trainer also has respect for the opposition as he does the magnitude of the challenge to send one of his horses from England to take on Australia’s best in their own backyard.
•PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
“Lake Forest is in really good form and I think we are going to go into the race with a good shot as long as it stays dry,’’ the trainer said.
Australian punters have learned to never underestimate a Haggas-trained raider. The champion English trainer has regularly plundered feature Sydney races in recent years – usually while he remains at home.
Haggas trains out of the idyllic township of Newmarket, which is situated just over an hour’s drive north of London and is nestled in the breathtakingly beautiful English countryside.
Newmarket is an intoxicating mix of racing tradition and modern technology. It is home to the famous July Course and Rowley Mile, and the Jockey Club which was built in 1752.
The majority of the town’s population of around 15,000 work in the thoroughbred industry and abide by the quaint local practice of giving the horse right of way when crossing the road to access Newmarket’s many training tracks, even during morning peak hour.
Haggas has called Newmarket home for 45 years, virtually his entire working life, and not even a $10 million race in Sydney on Saturday or England’s fast-approaching harsh winter could entice him to leave.
“I would love to come, especially for the warmer weather in your spring,’’ Haggas said when interviewed by News Corp from his Somerville Lodge stables.
“But I’m sorry, I can’t come this year, there’s just too much going on here at home.’’
Lake Forest from the @WilliamHaggas barn has drawn Barrier 8 for Saturday's Golden Eagle. @ray_thomas1 caught up with @IsabellaPaul20 to get her thoughts. pic.twitter.com/cXrOLyOniP
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 29, 2024
• Clinton Payne’s Golden Eagle tips, runner-by-runner form analysis
Even though Haggas is on the other side of the world, he remains hands on with Lake Forest’s preparation with a reliance on technology and his trusted stable representative, Isabella Paul.
Haggas talks to Paul at least twice a day and has access to videos of Lake Forest’s trackwork at the Canterbury quarantine and training facility.
It’s a system Haggas has honed with great success since he sent Addeybb to Sydney during the Covid pandemic and won the Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double in 2020 and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2021.
Haggas wasn’t trackside when Dubai Honour won the 2023 Ranvet Stakes either but he did make it to Sydney for that horse’s outstanding win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes later that autumn.
The champion English trainer has also won three Manion Cups with Young Rascal (2020), Favorite Moon (2021) and Post Impressionist (2024).
Haggas, who is married to Maureen, the daughter of the late, great English riding legend Lester Piggott, hasn’t been at Rosehill for any of his recent wins in Ranvet Stakes or Manion Cup but the trainer is familiar with the track.
He spent three months working at Rosehill during the early 1980s for Brian Mayfield-Smith just before he ended Tommy Smith’s 33-year reign as Sydney’s premier trainer in 1985.
When Haggas returned to England, he took out a trainer’s licence and has forged a very successful career preparing over 2000 winners including 32 at Group 1 level highlighted by the 1996 English Deby with Shaamit and 2011 English Oaks with Dancing Rain. He has trained international Group 1 winners in Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and, of course, Australia.
• Winx, Nature Strip … now Bella: Mighty mare eyes $20m club
Haggas has prepared many outstanding horses like champion Baaeed, winner of 10 of his 11 starts with six at Group 1 level including a superlative effort in the 2022 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, Sea Of Class, Alenqueur, Mukhadram and One Master. The trainer has unearthed another rising star this year in the gifted three-year-old colt Economics, winner of four of his six starts including the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes.
Economics has been one of three Group 1 winners for Haggas during 2024. The evergreen Dubai Honour won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in France and Montassib won the Sprint Cup at Haydock.
“We have had a pretty good year,’’ Haggas said. “Economics is a very good horse and with luck he will be back next year.’’
But Haggas dismissed any thought of bringing Economics to Sydney for the autumn carnival as the horse is simply too valuable as a potential stallion prospect.
Haggas did suggest Dubai Honour was a chance of returning to Sydney next autumn. “If he is in good condition, we will certainly consider it,’’ the trainer added.
• Moreira: Ascoli Piceno is top of the list in Golden Eagle
The subject returned to Lake Forest, a three-year-old by northern hemisphere time who has had seven starts for two wins including the prestigious Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes last year.
Lake Forest has only had two starts this season, finishing second in both including the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June, a race which convinced Haggas to aim the chestnut at the Golden Eagle.
“I started to think it might be possible after Royal Ascot,’’ Haggas said.
“He did miss an important Group 2 race after Royal Ascot where he was one of the favourites but was scratched at the barriers.
“That race was over 1400m and we were using it to confirm whether we should go to Australia. The ground was quick that day so that was a shame.’’
Haggas then consulted Lake Forest’s owners to determine if they should still go ahead with the Golden Eagle plans. “We had to make a decision and it was unanimous we should send the horse.’’
Although the trainer has mastered the art of sending his stable stars to Sydney for autumn, preparing a horse for the spring carnival is very different.
But Haggas pointed out that Lake Forest had been sparingly raced this year and arrived here on “fresh legs”.
A shock in the Gimcrack 👀
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 25, 2023
Lake Forest (16/1) was a beaten odds-on favourite at Newmarket last time but the No Nay Never colt proved that run all wrong by sweeping up the stands' side to land the @ABE_Dubai Gimcrack Stakes for William Haggas.@TomMarquand | @yorkracecoursepic.twitter.com/yigKDMEyjC
• Trainer declares international raider the ‘best horse’ in Golden Eagle field
“The problem we usually have coming out of our summer to your spring is that we have been on the go a long time,’’ Haggas said.
“With Lake Forest, he didn’t race in our spring because his first start for the year was always going to be Royal Ascot. He should be very fresh for Sydney.’’
Lake Forest is Haggas’ first Sydney spring carnival starter although he has campaigned some runners in Melbourne during the Cup Carnival over the years.
“This is nearly a new one for me, we are learning all the time,’’ he said.
“In a way, it’s good that Lake Forest has only had the two runs this year so he hasn’t had a long campaign.’’
Lake Forest, who will be ridden by Englishman Cieren Fallon, drew best of the four international runners in barrier eight.
Haggas then relied on his knowledge of the Rosehill track from his days with Mayfield-Smith to determine likely tactics for the striking chestnut son of champion sire No Nay Never.
“In the past we have been trying to relax him to help him finish off his races,’’ Haggas said.
• Craig Williams to go from vanquished to victor in Golden Eagle
“But I think Rosehill is the wrong track to be doing anything like that.
“I think the tempo will be strong, when you get a shot at $10 million they tend to overdo it, and this horse does find the line.
“He has only ever run over 1200m but there is lots of stamina on the dam’s side and I’m hoping he can improve for it.’’
There was some talk earlier this spring that the Golden Eagle would be granted Group 1 status but that looks unlikely before Saturday’s race.
Haggas was straight to the point when asked if the potential Group 1 rating for the Golden Eagle was part of his decision-making process to send Lake Forest to Sydney, or if it was the monumental challenge of chasing another international big-race success?
The answer was neither: “The prizemoney,’’ he said.
“There is always the challenge when you are travelling horses but we wanted to go for the Golden Eagle because the prizemoney is so good.’’
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Haggas wary of Joliestar in Golden Eagle
Trainer William Haggas has a better handle on the international form than most but he has identified a local horse as the one to beat in the $10 million James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Haggas, who trains the talented English galloper Lake Forest, said he was taken by Joliestar’s fast-finishing seventh in The Everest last start.
“Joliestar ran a cracking race in The Everest,’’ he said. “I thought it was a really good trial for the Golden Eagle.’’
Joliestar was finishing faster than anything else in The Everest when beaten one-and-a-half lengths behind Bella Nipotina at Royal Randwick two weeks ago.
Haggas said he watched The Everest meeting and marvelled at the atmosphere generated by the modern-day record crowd of 49,117.
“I watched it all and thought it was great,’’ he said. “It was an incredible crowd.’’
What a mare! 🙌
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024
An epic finish to the #TABEverest with Bella Nipotina calling upon all her bravery to win! 😮@CWilliamsJockey | @cmaherracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/joFzBJjypt
• Golden Eagle barrier draw: Japanese favourite draws wide
The Golden Eagle crowd won’t be of Everest proportions but Australian Turf Club officials are expecting a bumper attendance at Rosehill.
Haggas is confident Lake Forest won’t have a problem coping with the sometimes raucous Rosehill crowd while also offering his expert opinion on the other international runners.
“Lazzat is a very good horse,’’ Haggas said of the unbeaten French raider who boasts the Group 1 Maurice De Gheest at Deauville among his six wins.
“The fellow who trains him, Jerome Reynier, knows what he is doing, too.’’
Haggas is also wary of both Japanese fillies, Ascoli Piceno and Corazon Beat, despite both drawing wide in barriers 17 and 19 respectively.
“The Japanese horses are good, Ascoli Piceno has serious form,’’ he said.
Ascoli Piceno is a Group 1 winner in Japan and was runner-up in the 1000 Guineas earlier this year. She recently resumed with a comfortable Group 3 win at Nakayama.
Haggas, who trains for King Charles III, urged Australian punters to watch out for one of His Majesty’s horses, Gilded Water, who has been sent down under and will be trained by Ciaron Maher.
Gilded Water, a three-year-old by northern hemisphere time, has raced only four times in England for a maiden win at Chepstow. He hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
“I used to train Gilded Water and he’s a really good horse,’’ Haggas said.
“He’s only had four starts, he’s by Fastnet Rock, and he’s been sent to Australia by the King but he is going to be a very good stayer.’’
Originally published as Trainer William Haggas says ‘fresh legs’ can see Lake Forest can make an impact in 2024 Golden Eagle
Kembla, Tumut, Gilgandra tips for Saturday
Form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, quaddie picks, jockey to follow and inside mail for Kembla Grange on Saturday, as well as tips for Tumut and Gilgandra.
No Magic but Summer gets time to shine in Lonhro Plate
A minor setback has cost Alabama Magic the chance to contest the Listed Lonhro Plate but trainer Brett Cavanough is hopeful about the prospects of her stablemate at Royal Randwick.