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Addeybb well ahead of Ranvet

3 minute read

Maher says Dragonet should suit the step up to 2000 metres.

ADDEYBB.
ADDEYBB. Picture: Bradley Photography

The delayed time slot for the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) has done little to dent the confidence of the William Haggas camp ahead of Addeybb's (Pivotal) attempt to defend his crown in the Group 1 at Rosehill on Saturday. 

Nominations for the Group 1 were re-opened after heavy rain in Sydney forced the ATC to push the Group 1 back a week and the son of Pivotal (Polar Falcon) will now face eight rivals, compared to four before the reschedule, with Group 1 filly Collette (Hallowed Crown) and Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Sir Dragonet (Camelot) among the new nominations. 

However, even with the new additions, Isabella Paul, Haggas' travelling foreperson, says she still views the 2000 metre race as a match-up between their three-time Group 1 winner Addeybb and Chris Waller's multiple Group 1-winning mare Verry Elleegant (Zed).

"Potentially, Colette's got great soft ground form and Sir Dragonet won the Cox Plate so they're both horses to look out for and to watch," Paul said at a media conference on Thursday. 

"But chatting to Tom (Marquand) and looking at the market, it still seems like a two-horse race. 

"Maybe that's a little arrogant of me but that's how I view it." 

Meanwhile, co-trainer Ciaron Maher is confident Sir Dragonet (Camelot) can bounce back to form when he tackles the Ranvet Stakes on Saturday. 

After winning the Cox Plate at The Valley last October and then running sixth in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), the entire has run disappointingly twice this campaign, resuming with a seventh place finish in the C F Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and he was last seen finishing ninth in the All-Star Mile (1600m) on March 13. 

"He was a bit fresh the other day (in the All-Star Mile) but he pulled up fine and was good through the line. It was a messy race,'' Maher said.

"Back to the 2000 metres with a few more gallops under his belt he will line up in good order."


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