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The appearance of Japan’s Danon Premium and Britain’s Addeybb highlight Saturday’s (11 April) Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, in Sydney, which is one of four Group 1 races and seven races in total to be simulcast in Hong Kong.
Last year's Queen Elizabeth Stakes was all about champion mare Winx's retirement following her 33rd consecutive win and 25th at G1 level but this year the talk is of the international challenge with Addeybb 's William Haggas-trained stablemate Young Rascal also competing in the G1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
The Haggas pair, whose training in Australia has been supervised by travelling foreman Harry Eustace, are well acclimatised. They arrived in Australia on 29 February and raced three weeks later, at Rosehill, where Addeybb claimed the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) while Young Rascal won the G3 Manion Cup (2400m) at his first start since contesting the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December.
Both were ridden by Britain's young riding sensation Tom Marquand at 22, who will be aboard again this weekend.
Japan's hopes for a third major race success – following the wins of Mer De Glace and Lys Gracieux last October – this season in Australia, rest with Danon Premium who beat the G1 Cox Plate winner and Japan's 2019 highest-rated horse Lys Gracieux in the G2 Kinko Sho in March last year.
The son of Deep Impact is prepared by Mitsumasa Nakauchida who, at 41, is relatively young in training terms and – like Marquand – is considered something of a rising star.
Danon Premium 's preparation, in the Covid-19 enforced absence of Nakauchida, has been overseen by assistant trainer Teruhiko Saruhashi, who also rides the horse in trackwork. Saruhashi said he was not greatly concerned about the prospect of a soft track despite all Danon Premium's runs in Japan being on ground described as good or firm.
The Randwick track, which is right-handed (circumference 2224m, straight 410m), was rated soft on Wednesday afternoon and further rain is forecast in Sydney this week.
"We believe he is a top class galloper based on form lines from Japan and we are very happy and proud to have him here in Australia, said Saruhashi, "and a soft track is not a massive concern.
"If you were going to ask what would we prefer? Yes, we would like the drier, firmer track. The faster we think the horse may be better suited but by no means are we at panic stations if there is a little bit more rain or the give in the track."
In contrast, soft ground would be an advantage for Addeybb and Young Rascal who coped with those conditions when successful at Rosehill and who boast seven and four wins respectively on rain affected ground.
Eustace reports both horses are in good order: "We're delighted with how they are and looking forward to Saturday. It's no easy feat travelling horses for an extended period of time and the boss (Haggas) has done a phenomenal job picking his mark.
"We're excited to be getting Young Rascal up in trip and Addeybb's been very sharp in his work. If the track comes up around a soft six rating, that would help us."
Addeybb was a narrow winner from the Chris Waller trained Verry Elleegant, who re-opposes on Saturday, in the Ranvet Stakes and the northern hemisphere visitors will also face strong competition from the New Zealand-trained stablemates Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle along with G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare and emerging talent Master Of Wine.
