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3 Apr 2017

High hopes for Haggas star quartet

Rivet Haggas

William Haggas has outlined plans for several of his leading lights, who he hopes will make a significant impact in the QIPCO British Champions Series this year.

Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet is prominent in the ante-post betting for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Investec Derby, although he may not run in the former on May 6, the first race in this year’s Series.

“Rivet is fine and I would like to give him a run before he has a cut at a Guineas of some description,” the Newmarket-based trainer said. “At the moment we are leaning towards France but he is in the English, he will be in the Irish and any other Classic we can think of.

“As far as his best trip goes, he might be best at ten furlongs but I don’t know that yet. He is out of a Galileo mare so he might get a mile and a half. It is early days, but he looks stronger to me.

“You hope his life is only beginning and not at an end.”

Sea Of Grace, a QIPCO 1000 Guineas possible, has joined Haggas from the yard of John Oxx, and has a a Group 3 win at the Curragh on her CV.

Haggas said: “I like her. She has done well. We are planning to go to Newmarket for the Nell Gwyn to give her a taste of Newmarket and the track.

“She will stay a mile well and might get further in time, but if she is going to win a Guineas she needs to put a good show up in the Nell Gwyn. She came in great shape and we are very lucky to have her.”

Mutakayyef finished third to Postponed in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York last year and is expected to build on his reappearance effort, when fifth in the Dubai Turf at Meydan on rain-softened ground that had gone against him,

“I think there is plenty of life left in Mutakayyef,” Haggas said. “He is going to be attacking some smart races this year. The one race I really want to have a crack at this year is the Sussex [Stakes at Goodwood in August]. He has definitely got a Group One in him.”

Progressive stayer Dal Harraild is likely to start off in the Betway Yorkshire Cup at York on May 19 and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot might also be on his agenda..

“He is a nice, young stayer and I don’t know how far he is going to go,” Haggas said. “He likes firm ground and that is not always the case at that time of the year at York, but he will run in a decent race first time out and we will decide which way to go with him. He will get an entry in the Gold Cup at Ascot.”

Andrea Atzeni lands the Racing Post Trophy on Rivet. Pic:racingfotos.com