Group 1 hero Dubai Honour to head four-strong Australian raiding party for William Haggas

William Haggas is targeting further Group 1 success in Australia, with Dubai Honour heading a high-class team of four who will travel from Newmarket.

The Somerville Lodge globetrotter was originally supposed to make his annual return in the Emir’s Trophy in Qatar in February but connections decided instead to have another crack at the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill followed by the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Randwick, a big-race double he pulled off two years ago. The stable's Addeybb also won both Group 1s in 2020 before adding a second QEII Stakes in 2021.

Owned by Mohamed Obaida, Dubai Honour has already won more than £4 million in prize-money and was last seen finishing second to fellow British raider Giavellotto in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December.

Haggas said: “Dubai Honour had a very good summer in England last year and he ran well to be second in the Hong Kong Vase in December. He loves the travelling and there is an option to run him in the Tancred Stakes a week after the Ranvet [March 22] but that would only leave two weeks until the QEII so we’ll have to see.”

Dubai Honour will be joined by the King and Queen’s Royal Ascot winner Desert Hero, who may be targeted at a Cup race, while the Australian-owned filly Marama and classy handicapper Al Mubhir complete the party.

Haggas said: “Desert Hero's a good horse and an interesting one. He’s similar to Dubai Honour in that he wants a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half but he’s probably better over the latter. I’ve actually entered him in the Sydney Cup over two miles which he should get on the evidence of his third in the St Leger in 2023."

He added: “Marama was bought by some Australians after she bolted up at Chester last summer and she’ll do well down there as she likes a bit of cut in the ground. As a six-year-old Al Mubhir is the right age to go to Australia. He’s doing well and although he copes with fast ground he’s better on soft. He could go to the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill at the end of the month.”

Read more . . .

Brighterdaysahead cut for Champion Hurdle after Gordon Elliott reveals she will take on Constitution Hill in day one feature 

'I had £80,000 on to put the wheels back on the bike' - JP McManus's greatest Cheltenham Festival gambles 

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Racing Post+ subscribers. Chris Cook provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Join today