Tag Archive for: Economics

Economics and Charyn headline Champions Day fields

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Economics and Charyn are two of the star names still in contention following the second entry stage for the five Group races on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.

A total of 151 horses have stood their ground across the Champion Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the British Champions Sprint, the Long Distance Cup and the Fillies & Mares Stakes, with several mouthwatering clashes in prospect.

The William Haggas-trained Economics is the likely favourite for the Qipco Champion Stakes as he bids to supplement his victory in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time out. He may not have things all his own way, however, with French ace Calandagan chief among his likely rivals.

Calandagan in action at York
Calandagan in action at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s top-class trio of City Of Troy, Los Angeles and Auguste Rodin are also among the 36 horses still in the mix, but all are being readied for alternative targets, namely the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Japan Cup respectively. As expected, King George hero Goliath has been taken out.

Roger Varian’s Charyn will bid to put the seal on his excellent campaign in the QEII, having already struck Group One gold in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. He was only narrowly denied a top-level hat-trick in the Prix du Moulin on his most recent outing.

Varian said: “He’s in great form and Ascot, where he was very good in the Queen Anne, is the plan.

“He’s had a terrific season and it might have been even better, as he was arguably a bit unlucky at Longchamp in the Moulin, but at the start of the year we’d have been very happy to settle for what he’s already achieved.”

A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville
A big smile from Silvestre de Sousa as he returns aboard Charyn in Deauville (PA)

Charyn’s potential opponents among a total of 27 remaining entries include last year’s brilliant winner Big Rock (Maurizio Guarnieri), Metropolitan (Mario Baratti) and Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby).

The October 19 card kicks off with the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, in which Kyprios is the star attraction, although he must first come through the Prix du Cadran this weekend.

Last year’s Long Distance Cup hero Trawlerman (John and Thady Gosden) is also among the 26 hopefuls for this season’s renewal, as is his Doncaster Cup-winning stablemate Sweet William and the ever-popular Trueshan (Alan King), who claimed this prize in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The new kid on the staying block is Al Nayyir, who was touched off by Vauban on his first start for Tom Clover in the Lonsdale Cup at York in August and confirmed that was no fluke with a runaway success in the Listed Rose Bowl at Newmarket last week.

“Al Nayyir looks to have come out of his race at Newmarket nicely and he looks great, so all being well we are heading to Champions Day with him,” said Clover.

“Luke Morris had felt after riding work on him before Newmarket that he’d come forward for York, but even so I can’t say I expected him to win in quite the style he did.

“You sometimes get exaggerated distances on that easy ground, but with a smooth run I hope we can have a good crack at the Long Distance Cup.”

Kinross (Ralph Beckett), Mill Stream (Jane Chapple-Hyam) and Montassib (William Haggas) are three of 33 going forward for the Qipco British Champions Sprint.

Montassib returns under Cieren Fallon after winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock
Montassib returns under Cieren Fallon after winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock (PA)

Montassib won the Sprint Cup at Haydock last month, narrowly defeating the James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue, who has since been snapped up by the Wathnan Racing team.

Fanshawe said: “Kind Of Blue has been in good form since his second in the Betfair Sprint Cup and James Doyle came and had a sit on him on Saturday as he’s now owned by Wathnan Racing. The Champions Sprint at Ascot is the plan for him and it’s a race we’ve won before with both Deacon Blues and The Tin Man.

“Kind Of Blue is out of a sister to Deacon Blues and a half-sister to The Tin Man, so he’s their nephew if you like. They were both four-year-olds when they won on Champions Day and Kind Of Blue is only three, but he’s by Blue Point and a big, strong colt. He hopefully has a bright future.”

The Qipco Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes sees 29 remain in contention with high-profile names such as Bluestocking (Ralph Beckett), Kalpana (Andrew Balding), Opera Singer (Aidan O’Brien), Content (Aidan O’Brien) and Emily Upjohn (John and Thady Gosden) all included.



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Calandagan heading for big clash with Economics

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Francis-Henri Graffard reports Calandagan to be in “top form” as he builds up towards a mouthwatering clash with Economics in the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month.

So impressive when winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot by six lengths, the son of Gleneagles was last seen powering up the York straight to finish a clear second behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International.

Being a gelding, Calandagan is ineligible to run on home soil in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, therefore making Qipco British Champions Day on October 19 the obvious destination.

Graffard said: “Calandagan in top form and is training to go to Ascot.”

The three-year-old is the 2-1 second-favourite for the Champion Stakes with Paddy Power, who make the William Haggas-trained Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics their 6-4 favourite.

Another Graffard inmate with an upcoming top-level target is the regally-bred Zarigana, who took her career record to two from two with a dominant display in the Group Three Prix d’Aumale.

A granddaughter of the unbeaten Arc heroine Zarkava, the Siyouni filly is being readied for a return to ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.

“Zarigana is a lovely filly and won nicely and she will be targeted at the Prix Marcel Boussac,” Graffard added.



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Haggas confirms Ascot not Paris will be next for Economics

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William Haggas has ruled out a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics, who looks set to instead round off his season in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

So impressive when winning the Dante Stakes at York in May, Economics sidestepped the Derby at Epsom, with Haggas preferring to play the long game with a horse viewed as a work in progress.

After returning from three months off the track with a Group Two victory in France, the Night Of Thunder colt stepped up to the highest level for the first time at Leopardstown on Saturday and showed plenty of tenacity to go with his undoubted talent to see off Auguste Rodin in a thrilling finish.

“We’ve had a bit of practice at making mistakes and we’ll never know if it was the right decision or not (to miss Epsom). He may well have won the Derby, but we felt it was the right thing to do to wait and thank God he won his Group One yesterday and sort of paid for the owner’s (Sheikh Isa, who sponsored the race) patience,” Haggas said on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme.

“Tom (Marquand) was keen not to get too far back and subsequently he travelled a bit wide. He came in and said it was really messy and not how he wanted to do it all, but he still won.”

Haggas is confident Economics will stay further, but that avenue looks more likely to be explored next season than this, with the trainer keen to give his charge time to get over the toughest test of his short career to date.

He added: “For me, he wants slightly slower ground and he looks like he’s going to be at least as good at a mile and a half. I think he’ll stay well, but he’s not doing a bad job at a mile and a quarter at the moment.

“It’s pretty straightforward – we have a nice five weeks (until the Champion Stakes). He had a hard race yesterday and gave plenty, so he’ll need all of that time until the English Champion.

“It (Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe) was discussed yesterday and we toyed with it, but I think he had a tough race and going up to a mile and a half and another trip abroad, I don’t think that’s for him really.

“If he’s that good he can do the Arc next year with all that weight – plenty of four-year-olds have won that race.”



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Marquand ‘extremely excited’ to take major Economics test

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It will take a special horse to end Aidan O’Brien’s stranglehold on the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, but Tom Marquand is “extremely excited” to partner the imposing Economics when he faces the acid test of his credentials on Saturday.

William Haggas’ Night Of Thunder colt confirmed the promise of his dazzling Dante Stakes with a polished performance in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville.

Economics now takes the leap into both deep waters and enemy territory for the Leopardstown feature, with big-race pilot Marquand relishing what will be the toughest assignment of his mount’s career so far.

Marquand said: “I’m extremely excited, this has been the plan for a little while. France was obviously going to be the deciding factor if this stayed the plan or changed, but he won very well in Deauville and looked as good as we were all hoping he would be.

“I felt he was a lot more mature and he felt more effective in his stride. When he was motoring up to the line he was still extending, whereas at York once he got into top gear he was having a little wobble around and was quite immature still.

“Hopefully he will have taken another step forward from France, which I think he will have done, and there’s not much else to say other than it’s exciting and given us all something great to look forward to.”

He went on: “I’ve been lucky to ride some really good horses, but most of the good horses I have come across have been older horses where there is a general hole for those middle-distance types.

“For potential, though, he is the most exciting horse I have been involved with. We’re coming to the end of his three-year-old campaign and we still don’t really know what he is which is the exciting bit.”

Economics was a taking winner
Economics after winning at Newbury earlier this year (PA)

This venture to the Irish capital is leg one of an ambitious ‘Champion Stakes double’ Economics is seeking this autumn, with the Somerville Lodge runner also slated to run at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day.

Only six horses have won both races in the same year and Marquand is well aware the might of Ballydoyle is standing in the way of the first hurdle, as his charge attempts to become the first British-trained winner since Roaring Lion in 2018.

“It’s a tough race, but it’s the Irish Champion Stakes, it’s meant to be,” continued Marquand.

“It’s no easy task by any means to go over to Ireland and win, but some others have been over in the past and managed it. He will need to be every bit as good as we hope he is – and maybe even a little bit more to win.

“It’s fantastic for Sheikh Isa and his family to have a horse in the race that they sponsor. They put so much into racing and to be rewarded with a horse with a real live chance in a race they have heavily invested in is great.”

Aidan O'Brien has a great record in this race
Aidan O’Brien has a great record in this race (Damien Eagers/PA)

O’Brien has won this a record 12 times and the master of Ballydoyle saddles half the field as he seeks to extend his winning run to six straight years.

His two most recent winners, Luxembourg and Auguste Rodin, take part once again, and are joined by Irish Derby winner Los Angeles and Hans Andersen.

On Los Angeles, O’Brien said: “It will be interesting. He’s won around Leopardstown and it was soft ground when he won, but he’s a deceiving horse as he’s lazy and when he gets the front he doesn’t do much, so it’s just hard to assess him.

“For us, we’ll learn a lot about him in this race because there’ll be a strong, even pace and we will learn what kind of middle-distance type horse he’s going to be.”

Auguste Rodin bounced back from King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes disappointment when outbattling Luxembourg 12 months ago and O’Brien is backing the defending champion to return to his very best after hitting another bump in the road at Ascot in late July.

Auguste Rodin (left) and Luxembourg fight out the finish to last year's Irish Champion Stakes
Auguste Rodin (left) and Luxembourg fight out the finish to last year’s Irish Champion Stakes (Damien Eagers/PA)

“He’s one of those horses who just about gets a mile and a half, but over a mile and a quarter he has loads of class,” O’Brien told Betfred TV.

“We’ve been very happy with him since Ascot, his work has been very good. He worked with a lot of zest the last day and we’re looking forward to seeing him run again.”

There is an international flavour to the contest provided by Japanese Arc hopeful Shin Emperor who will tune-up for ParisLongchamp by trying to add another major overseas prize to his handler Yoshito Yahagi’s stellar CV.

Along with Economics, Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter and Karl Burke’s Royal Rhyme will form the British raiding party having finished third and sixth respectively behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes.

Ghostwriter has been consistent all season
Ghostwriter has been consistent all season (Tim Goode/PA)

For Ghostwriter, that York third was the latest strong performance in an excellent campaign and despite yet to gain the victory his efforts have deserved, his reputation is yet to be diminished.

“He’s ran very consistently right from the very beginning of the season,” said Cox.

“He continues to please me at home, his well-being and mannerisms show he’s in excellent form with himself. He’s run admirably against City Of Troy throughout this season, especially in his last run at York.”



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Economics and Auguste Rodin remain on collision course

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Economics and Auguste Rodin are among 12 high-class contenders left in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at the confirmation stage for Saturday’s Leopardstown showpiece.

Trained by William Haggas and Aidan O’Brien respectively, Economics will be having his first start at Group One level, while in contrast last year’s winner Auguste Rodin is in search of his seventh Group One triumph.

O’Brien also retains the option of Irish Derby hero Los Angeles, 2022 winner Luxembourg, Continuous and Hans Andersen.

Auguste Rodin (left) beats Luxembourg in last year's Irish Champion Stakes
Auguste Rodin (left) beats Luxembourg in last year’s Irish Champion Stakes (Damien Eagers/PA)

Japanese raider Shin Emperor adds further spice, with Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter and Karl Burke’s Royal Rhyme furthering the British challenge.

A strong French contingent is in prospect, with Zarakem and Facteur Cheval left in by Jerome Reynier, while Metropolitan, the French 2000 Guineas winner, is still possible for Mario Baratti.

The first of six Group Ones across the two-day Irish Champions Festival is the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes, for which 14 fillies have stood their ground.

Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna will line up chasing a Group One hat-trick after landing the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth at Newmarket, while the Burke-trained Fallen Angel – who beat Porta Fortuna in the Moyglare Stud Stakes 12 months ago – is set to make her first appearance since claiming Classic glory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May.

George Boughey’s Soprano could also travel from Britain, Jancis is set to put her unbeaten record on the line for Willie McCreery and Aidan O’Brien will rely on Ylang Ylang.

Sunday’s Curragh card is centred around the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, in which Ballydoyle’s star stayer Kyprios takes top billing.

The six-year-old was a beaten odds-on favourite when defending his crown in last year’s renewal, but has reestablished himself as the top dog in the division by winning each of his four starts this season, including big-race victories in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup.

He might not have things all his own way this weekend, with his high-class stablemate Continuous among his potential rivals along with Marco Botti’s Giavellotto and the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban.

Bradsell and jockey Hollie Doyle after winning the Nunthorpe at York
Bradsell and jockey Hollie Doyle after winning the Nunthorpe at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Archie Watson’s dual Group One winner Bradsell heads the British challenge for the Group One Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes, with George Boughey’s Believing and Ken Condon’s defending champion Moss Tucker also among the 20 contenders.

Aidan O’Brien is responsible for six of the eight fillies in the mix for the Moyglare Stud Stakes, with the unbeaten Bedtime Story the likely favourite.

Promising stern opposition though are the Ger Lyons-trained course and distance winner Red Letter and Simmering, who has been supplemented by Ollie Sangster after winning a Group Three at Ascot and a Group Two in France on her last two starts.

O’Brien’s Henri Matisse heads a potential field of 10 runners in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. The dual Group Two winner could be joined by stable companions Rock Of Cashel and The Parthenon, while Joseph O’Brien has both Cowardofthecounty and Scorthy Champ in the mix.

Hill Road is another worthy participant for Adrian Murray, while Charlie Appleby has supplemented the Vintage Stakes winner Aomori City, meaning he could head a British trio comprising of Wolf Of Badenoch and Seagulls Eleven, both trained by Hugo Palmer.



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‘This is what it is all about’ – Haggas ready to unleash Economics

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William Haggas is confident Economics is ready to step into what will be deep waters when he heads to Leopardstown for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes next weekend.

Despite looking the part in his three victories this term, the strapping son of Night Of Thunder has yet to put his great potential to the test at the highest level.

After dazzling in the Dante, Economics maintained the momentum with a stylish success at Deauville in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and bookmakers make him a general 6-5 favourite to continue climbing the ladder.

However, a stellar cast – which includes Aidan O’Brien’s defending champion Auguste Rodin, 2022 winner Luxembourg and Irish Derby hero Los Angeles – lie in wait for what will be a severe examination of his credentials.

“He’s fine and we’re looking forward to running him at Leopardstown,” said Haggas.

“It will be his first time in a Group One and he’s going to have the might of Ballydoyle to take on plus a few others, but we will see. This is what it is all about, isn’t it. I could do with the race being England, but I think he is ready to step up for sure.”

An ambitious Champion Stakes double is being plotted for Economics this autumn, with the Sheikh Isa-owned colt also entered in the Qipco Champions Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot in October.

Economics winning the Dante at York
Economics winning the Dante at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Only six horses have managed to complete that big-race double on both sides of the Irish Sea in the same season, but Haggas believes even if his latest stable star does not manage to join that elusive club of dual winners, he has a bright future ahead.

“Even if he doesn’t win he will still be a good horse and he will be a lightly-raced inexperienced horse who is only going to get better,” continued Haggas.

“I don’t know where his ceiling is, but I hope we’re not there yet. Hopefully there will be plenty more to come.”



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Economics returns with stylish Deauville victory

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Economics returned to action with an impressive display in beating Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville.

Much has been written about the imposing three-year-old since his demolition job in the Dante at York, after which connections resisted the temptation to supplement for the Derby.

A clash with Derby winner City Of Troy in the Eclipse did not materialise, with William Haggas eventually settling on this Group Two for his reappearance rather than the Juddmonte International at York next week.

It was far from a penalty kick, though, with Brian Meehan’s Jayarbee and Ed Walker’s Almaqam, as well as the promising Bright Picture for Andre Fabre, among the opposition.

Briefly it looked as though Sean Levey had given Jayarebe a fantastic ride as he was the first to set off in pursuit of the pacemaker and slipped the field, three lengths clear with Tom Marquand at work on Economics.

But gradually the imposing chestnut went through the gears and once he hit the front he powered clear to win comfortably, with a long way back to Almaqam in third.

As a result, Economics was immediately shortened in price for the Irish Champion Stakes, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Haggas confirmed it would be the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 14 next, and that had been a determining factor in going to France.

The Newmarket handler said: “It was good to see him do it again. Watching it live it looked like he had to come from a fair way back and the second had got a run on him.

“His next possible target is the Irish Champion. That has got to be the target now.

“It is sponsored by Sheikh Isa’s (owner) family and it is a very important race for them. That is one of the reasons we ran him a week earlier than the Juddmonte. The Juddmonte to the Irish Champion is close enough.

“The plan is for him to remain in training next year, so those options (a mile and a half) are all open next year.

“It was something of a relief to see him do that again because you put your head on the block waiting and if you see the horse he’s a great big immature thing still, he’s just got an engine.

“If we look after him, he’ll repay us – that’s my logic.”

George Boughey’s Soprano hit the right note to return to winning ways in the Prix de Lieurey.

The Royal Ascot heroine has had to settle for a minor role since scooping Sandringham Stakes, getting stuck in soft ground when third at Sandown in the Coral Distaff and failing to land the blow in Ascot’s Valiant Stakes most recently.

Ridden by William Buick for the first time this season, the daughter of Starspangledbanner proved a cut above the rest as she quickened clear of the opposition in the home straight to leave her rivals chasing shadows inside the closing stages.

She holds an entry for the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown next month and was shortened to 12-1 from 16s by both Paddy Power and Betfair for the Group One event during Irish Champions Weekend.



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Marquand delighted to see Economics getting back to business

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Tom Marquand is excited at the prospect of being reunited with Economics on Thursday, as the impressive Dante scorer makes his eagerly-awaited return to the track at Deauville in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano.

It has only been 91 days since William Haggas’ son of Night Of Thunder was seen dazzling on the Knavesmire, but such was the taking impression of that Derby trial demolition, his spell on the sidelines has felt much longer.

However, his big-race jockey feels the approach taken by connections will be vindicated on the Normandy coast, where he is hopeful the talented colt can tee-up some big-race assignments for later in the season.

“I’m just really looking forward to having him back on track and he obviously remains an extremely exciting horse,” said Marquand.

“Thursday is going to be a pivotal day in his career in terms of setting goals and plans for the rest of the year.

“William and Maureen look at their horses and then act accordingly and that is what they have done with this fella.

“Seeing him at home, it looks the perfect move (to bide their time) and hopefully he can translate that on the track, having had that time to strengthen and mature – it should have done him the world of good.”

Marquand had the best seat in the house for Economics’ six-length Dante romp and shares in the anticipation to see if his mount can repeat his York heroics in this intriguing Group Two event, that Haggas landed with Dubai Honour three years ago.

“You couldn’t help be excited (after York),” continued Marquand.

“There is always that element of, when they do win so impressively, you have to have a bit of scepticism about it – the race was run to suit and you can’t be unrealistic about that.

“But the manner in which he did it – and if you took away the rest of the field and just watched him on the way round – you couldn’t help but be impressed.

“It’s not an easy race by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m looking forward to being on board him.”

Chief among Economics’ opposition is Ed Walker’s Almaqam, who established himself as a colt to note when dispatching Kikkuli in the Heron Stakes and then was not disgraced when upped to Group One company in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Almaqam (left) in action at Sandown
Almaqam (left) in action at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

The son of Lope De Vega – who will be partnered by William Buick – now makes the move up to 10 furlongs for the first time with his handler believing it could bring about the required improvement to take a hand in this red-hot contest.

Walker said: “It’s going to be a hell of a race, I think, and it’s great to have a horse I think is good enough to be part of it.

“We will see, but I imagine the first three home will all be winning Group Ones at some stage of their careers and I’m looking forward to it.

“I think stepping him up in trip will bring about plenty of improvement and William knows him well, so we’re very hopeful.”

Brian Meehan’s Hampton Court winner Jayarebe is also in the mix searching for his third win of the season, while Arrow Eagle, Safwan and Wahdan will all represent Jean-Claude Rouget, who is seeking a hat-trick in the race having saddled Al Hakeem and Ace Impact to strike in the last two seasons.

Andre Fabre’s Prix Eugene Adam scorer Bright Picture completes the seven-strong field heading to post in France.



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All eyes will be on Economics at Deauville on Thursday

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Dante winner Economics takes on Royal Ascot hero Jayarebe as the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano throws up a mouthwatering midweek treat at Deauville on Thursday.

The William Haggas-trained Economics was a six-length winner York’s Derby trial in mid-May, but connections resisted the temptation to head to Epsom and he has since enjoyed a mid-season break.

Potential returns to the Knavesmire for last month’s York Stakes and the Juddmonte International next week were considered, but the Night Of Thunder colt instead cross the Channel for a second Group Two assignment, and Haggas could not be happier with his condition.

“He’s fine and is on his way to Deauville as we speak,” the trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“We looked at the York Stakes at the end of July but he wasn’t ready for that, so it was either this or the Juddmonte and we preferred to have a go against the three-year-olds.

“He’s still relatively inexperienced. As promising as he might look, he’s still only run three races in his life, so we thought the Juddmonte might be quite a hard ask for a horse first time out for a while.

“He’s a pretty nice horse, I haven’t been looking very hard to see how good he is because that’s not the way we like to do it, but he does everything very easily, he’s pretty fit and I’m very much looking forward to getting him back on track – I can’t wait really.”

Economics was far too good for his rivals at York
Economics was far too good for his rivals at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Economics holds entries in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot, but Haggas is not looking beyond this week’s assignment.

He added: “I tend not to want to predict what might happen later on or where he might go, I want to get this first hurdle out of the way, but he’s in every smart race at a mile and a quarter that you can imagine and he’ll be aiming at one of those if he’s good enough.”

While Economics was brilliant in the Dante, he did return to the winner’s enclosure with blood in his nose, leaving some to question whether he had burst blood vessels.

Haggas, though, is putting the issue down to him banging his head on the starting stalls, saying: “We think that’s what happened, but we take no chances with him obviously.

“We had a few issues in the spring with that sort of thing, but he’s absolutely fine and we scope him every time he works and we haven’t seen a trace of blood, so that doesn’t concern us at the moment.

“What concerns me personally is how tight the ground might be for him (at Deauville). He’s a great big horse and it’s going to be quick ground, but he’s got to run so we’ll need to get on with it.

“He’s a beautiful looking horse and everything he has done so far has pleased us. He had a gallop at the racecourse at Newmarket about 10 days ago and he looked really good, so I’m really happy with him.”

Jayarebe made an excellent start to his three-year-old campaign by winning Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes, but was then beaten into third place as hot favourite for the Dee Stakes at Chester.

He got back on winning trail when repelling the late surge of King’s Gambit in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting, though, and trainer Brian Meehan is looking forward to his trip to France ahead of a likely tilt at Breeders’ Cup glory later in the year.

He said: “He’s great, really happy with him. He seems like he’s improved, he’s in tremendous form.

“Every race is a tough race, but I didn’t feel he had a particularly hard race (at Ascot). I considered the Eclipse, which was a couple of weeks later and it was only the (soft) ground that put us off running there.

“He’s taken a nice, gradual increase in class as he’s progressed and this was kind of a very obvious next step for him, staying in his own age group. The York Stakes was a consideration, he’d have been taken on a few older horses there, and this was always the most sensible route to take with him.

“The plan has always been to take him to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar. Depending on what happens on Thursday, where to take him in between is a bit of a dilemma, but saying that I’d be happy to not run him again until the Breeders’ Cup.

“He’s got a good travelling speed. The track at Del Mar is maybe not the ideal track for him, but he has got a good racing pace and he’s just really straightforward and a good galloper and I think extra two furlongs on that particular day would be ideal as well.”

Almaqam (left) on his way to victory at Sandown
Almaqam (left) on his way to victory at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

Economics and Jayarebe are two of seven runners declared for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, with Ed Walker’s Almaqam a third British raider.

The Lope De Vega colt readily accounted for the smart Kikkuli in Sandown’s Heron Stakes on his penultimate start, but having since been beaten into sixth in the St James’s Palace Stakes, he steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time.

The pick of the home team looks to be Bright Picture, who has won four of his five starts to date for Andre Fabre.

His only defeat came at the hands of Calandagan in the spring and he has since registered a clear-cut victory in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud.



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Deauville or Juddmonte now most likely options for Economics

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Economics could head straight to either the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano or the Juddmonte International next month, with trainer William Haggas admitting the Sky Bet York Stakes on Saturday week might come too soon for his brilliant Dante winner.

The Night Of Thunder colt was a stunning six-length victor in York’s recognised Derby trial in the spring and with connections quickly ruling out an appearance in the premier Classic at Epsom, Haggas has kept his cards close to his chest and his powder dry for the second half of the season.

The York Stakes, run over the Dante course and distance, was previously mooted as a potential comeback target – but Haggas may now delay Economics’ return until next month, with a trip to France or a belated return to York for a potential clash with City Of Troy both under consideration.

“He’s on schedule, he’s in work and we’re very happy with him,” the trainer said on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast on Wednesday morning.

“I’m not sure whether we’re going to make York next Saturday – we could do with another week.

“Deauville is coming now, so if we don’t make next Saturday at York – and he’ll work at the weekend – we’ll either go to Deauville or the Juddmonte, we haven’t made that decision.

“He’s won a Group Two, so the options are the Guillaume d’Ornano, which is a mile-and-a-quarter Group Two with no penalty, or the Juddmonte, where there is obviously no penalty.

“I don’t think he needs to go for the Rose of Lancaster at Haydock with a penalty, I don’t think that’s necessary, but it’s possible – everything’s possible, as I’ve said all along.

“The most important thing is getting the horse at his best and then we can run him wherever.”



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Plans fluid for Economics, but Haggas outlines potential routes

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William Haggas is considering a return to York for his Dante Stakes winner Economics, although he stressed there is “lots to discuss” ahead of what could be a big summer for his exciting colt.

Fourth on his sole juvenile start at Newmarket in November, the son of Night Of Thunder opened his account on his three-year-old debut at Newbury in the spring before taking a step up to Group Two class in his stride with a six-length victory on the Knavesmire in mid-May.

Connections resisted the temptation to supplement Economics for the Derby in favour of sticking to a mile and a quarter for the time being, and they are not short of options over the intermediate distance in the second half of the season.

While hesitant to commit to any future plans, Haggas views the Sky Bet York Stakes later this month as a suitable potential stepping-stone to the Juddmonte International over the same course and distance in August, with a trip to France a possible alternative should Bahraini owner Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa instead favour targeting the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

“He’s back in work and he should have a good second half of the season,” Haggas said on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast.

“He’s a lovely horse, but he’s a great, big horse and he’s not just a three-year-old – he’s going to be a four-year-old and maybe even a five-year-old, who knows?

“I don’t know how long it will be because if he’s top, top, top class he’ll be whisked off to stud, but I can’t believe he’s not going to be better next year.

“He’s a baby – he’s only run three times in his life and he’s got lots to look forward to.”

Outlining the possible options, the trainer added: “Obviously the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion is right on the radar because of the race title and His Highness’ involvement in it.

“The Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (at Deauville) is on August 15, so that knocks out the Juddmonte International and I’m quite keen to look at the Juddmonte as well.

“The obvious fit is the Sky Bet race (at York) on July 27, but if we don’t make that or don’t want to go there then we can go for the Juddmonte and he can do a racecourse gallop, but we’ve got 86 miles of gallops in Newmarket when they’re all open and if we can’t train them here then it’s a poor do!

“But I think to get the freshness out of him would do him good (to have a run) and that’s the sort of (plan) – it’s York/York or Deauville/Ireland, that’s how you think, but we’ve got lots to discuss.”



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Haggas rules out Derby bid for Economics

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William Haggas has confirmed his runaway Dante Stakes winner Economics will not run in the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday week.

Initially entered for the premier Classic, the Night Of Thunder colt was withdrawn prior to last week’s six-length victory at York, with Haggas saying: “The whole point of taking him out was I didn’t think it was the right track and the right race for him at this stage of his career.”

Having won one of the key Derby trials so impressively, there were inevitably calls for connections to supplement Economics at a cost of £75,000 – but after discussions with owner Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa, Haggas has announced he will not be added to the field on Monday.

He told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast: “We want to give him more time, he’s a big lovely, scopey horse.

“It’s a shame these races come up so quickly and he just needs some more time, that’s my view.

“He’s Sheikh Isa’s horse, but he’s very respectful of his trainers and he felt with Jake (Warren, racing manager) that we made a team decision. We discussed this at length before the Dante and my view never changed, but obviously it’s a huge race and with fancied horses falling by the wayside the temptation became greater.

“The Derby is the Derby and while we might go over a mile and a half later in the year, at the moment we feel that a mile and a quarter is good for him. He’s got plenty of speed, he’s by Night Of Thunder.

“It’s my job to look after the horse to the best of my ability and if that’s not good enough so be it.”

Economics was impressive at York
Economics was impressive at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

With next weekend’s Prix du Jockey Club also ruled out, future plans for Economics remain fluid.

Haggas added: “We’ll know at the end of the season how well the Dante works out, but I don’t know where we will see him next. I just want to let him mature, he’s an enormous horse and can do so much more physically, that’s what is exciting me.

“It’s hard enough to get a nice horse, it’s another thing to ruin one.

“We think and hope the fact he bled at York was because he banged his head on the stall. We’ve scoped him since and it was fine.”



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