Trainer William Haggas from Newmarket is mounting a British challenge, entering Dubai Honour and Caviar Heights in the $5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.
Both horses tackle Saturday’s flagship race, key to The Championships, extending Haggas’s strong Aussie legacy.
Off a gritty second behind Aeliana in the Tancred Stakes (2400m), Dubai Honour led long before fading near the finish.
At 2000m for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he’s in the mix, Tom Marquand sticking on from barrier five of eight.
Marquand led in Tancred but James McDonald on Aeliana surged perfectly to claim it on the line.
Blinkers are coming for Dubai Honour’s sharpening in the repeat.
“Hopefully they’ll sharpen him up,’’ said travelling assistant trainer Issy Paul.
“He’s an older horse now and was bounced out of his run, but I’m happy where he’s at so we’ll give it a good crack.”
“He’s a phenomenal horse, he rarely runs a bad race ever and we’ve got him in a really good place.”
Paul highlighted weather and rivals as factors.
“Sometimes the ground might not suit them, and it’s looking like a quick track on Saturday, but you can’t duck and dive. We’ve flown halfway across the world and it’s important we run.”
Dubai Honour hunts sixth elite win from 36 goes: 10-12-2, close to $10m in earnings.
Caviar Heights, Haggas’s $125 hope, showed promise with a placing in Neville Sellwood Stakes debut here.
The Sea The Stars five-year-old has Zac Lloyd from gate four, beside stablemate.
Foreign raiders heighten drama around perfect Autumn Glow.
$1.45 favourite trained by Chris Waller, James McDonald up, barrier two for win 12 straight.
Steve McMahon, Australian Turf Club interim CEO, described the moment.
“History isn’t something you watch later. It’s something you show up for,” McMahon said.
“This week at Royal Randwick, Autumn Glow chases her place in racing folklore. Be there. Feel it. Be part of it.”
“Racegoers are starting to embrace Autumn Glow like none other since Winx, and she can create her own history on Saturday if she remains unbeaten.”
Find the top racing betting markets ahead of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.