Hero is out, but Honour is in

Posted by RS NewsWire at 8:31pm on February 1st

King Charles III’s horse Desert Hero has been ruled out of the Sydney autumn carnival, but trainer William Haggas has confirmed stablemate Dubai Honour is locked in for an Australian return.

Haggas said it was only in the past 24 hours that connections had decided Desert Hero, who had been among the leading fancies for the Sydney Cup (3200m), wouldn’t be making the trip, however, he remained open to travelling the horse in the spring with the Melbourne Cup an option.

“We decided definitely this morning that His Majesty’s horse will not be coming to Sydney in the autumn,” Haggas told RadioTAB Australia on Thursday.

“We may well come down at the backend of the year in your (Australian spring), but I just felt he needed a bit more time and they (his owners) concurred.”

Haggas will have at least two horses in carnival contention with Dubai Honour on target for a defence of his Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth Stakes titles, while Post Impressionist is on a Sydney Cup path.

Dubai Honour has had his program geared around Sydney’s autumn features since his successful raid last year and Haggas hopes it’s not the last time the horse makes the journey.

“His whole (European) summer was based around getting him in top shape to come to you in February, March,” Haggas said.

“He will be the same horse he was, I hope.

“I’d like him to come back for two years. If all goes well this year and he runs competitively, then basically it will be all the same again.”

Haggas is yet to shore up a program for the Lloyd Williams-owned Post Impressionist but says the Sydney Cup is the main goal with the N E Manion Cup a possible lead-up.

“He doesn’t mind the cut in the ground, and he doesn’t mind quick ground either,” Haggas said of the stayer, who has firmed from $15 into $11 for the Sydney Cup.

“He’s a pretty durable horse, a very sound horse and he should be competitive.”

Haggas could have two Queen Elizabeth Stakes runners with the trainer warming to middle-distance horse Mujtaba joining his Sydney squad.

He also confirmed Tom Marquand would again make the trip to Sydney to partner his team, with the star jockey to open his account at the first Group 1 meeting of the autumn on March 2.

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th