Ranvet Stakes (Group 1)

TOM Marquand landed his first Group 1 aboard the Irish-bred Addeybb in the Ranvet Stakes for trainer William Haggas, as the pair completed a double on one of Australia’s biggest racedays.

“A Group 1 is all I have dreamt of since childhood, an international Group 1 even more so, and an international Group 1 on an English horse is even better,” said Marquand. “Addeybb was extremely tough and it’s on ground that he doesn’t really want nor appreciate.”

Working to the front from the 2,000 metre start, Marquand made it a wire-to-wire effort on the Champion Stakes runner-up as only the Australian Oaks winner Verry Ellegant came out to challenge. The Zed mare hit the lead at the 250 metre mark before the Pivotal gelding fought back to win by a half-length with a gap to another Pivotal gelding the Godolphin-owned Avilius.

“It was another peach, he (Marquand) controlled it from the front,” said travelling foreman Harry Eustace, the brother of David who co-trains with Ciaron Maher. “He gets going and I think everyone thinks he is struggling but he is just stoking the fire.”

Earlier the pair combined to win the Group 3 Manion Cup over 2,400 metres with the French-bred Intello gelding Young Rascal, a dual Newbury Group 3 winner in 2018 who was ninth in the Hong Kong Vase at his previous start.

“He’s a typical English-style horse. He was never hitting top gear until the last 100 metres really,” said Marquand. “It was a great performance considering we went pretty slow.” Second was the Irish-bred Mugatoo, by Henrythenavigator who was sent out a hot favourite.