Tag Archive for: Economics

Ascot run might not add up for Haggas’ Economics

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William Haggas fears Champions Day at Ascot on October 18 will come too soon for Economics, with winter targets in the Middle East now more likely.

Last year’s Dante and Irish Champion Stakes winner was being readied for a Royal Ascot return but met with a setback.

It has been a slow recovery for the four-year-old, and Haggas is almost on the verge of admitting defeat in him running in Europe this year.

“He had an injury in the run up to Ascot and he’s not going to make Ireland, I’ve taken him out of Ireland but I’ve left him in the Champion Stakes,” Haggas told Sky Sports Racing.

“I suspect he might not even be ready to run his best by then, so somewhere in the Middle East in the winter could be his first port of call.

“I’m delighted to say his sporting owner has confirmed he’s going to stay in training next year and I hope we’ll get a clear run with him then.

“It’s been a sensationally frustrating time for us with him.”

Bookmakers shorten Los Angeles with Economics to miss Ascot

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Los Angeles has been cut in the ante-post market on the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Economics ruled out.

The William Haggas-trained Economics had been seen as one of the main dangers to Aidan O’Brien’s star, following a three-year-old campaign that saw him win the Dante Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.

He was due to make his reappearance on day two of the Royal fixture, but Haggas told the Racing Post he would not be running and was “out in the short term, but it’s no big deal and hopefully he can be back in action soon”.

In his absence Los Angeles is the 3-1 favourite from 7-2 with William Hill, with Owen Burrows’ Champion Stakes winner Anmaat next best at 4-1.

William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps said: “News that William Haggas’ Economics has been ruled out of Royal Ascot has shaken up the Prince of Wales’s Stakes market.

“With one of his key competitors out, we have clipped Los Angeles from 7-2 to 3-1 at the head of the market.

“One horse we’re now fearing could be a popular pick is Anmaat after a strong reappearance behind Los Angeles at the Curragh and the Champion Stakes winner could be the punters’ pick at 4-1.

“Economics had been third in the betting, but that place now belongs to Wathnan Racing’s French raider Map Of Stars (5-1).”

Paddy Power make Los Angeles a 5-2 chance, with Map Of Stars 4-1 and Anmaat 9-2.