Golden boy: Tom Marquand savours second Group 1 win in Australia on Addeybb

He had laughed off his Australian success as "pretty jammy" earlier in the spring but Tom Marquand proved he has more than just luck on his side on Saturday.

Although he has been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, riding high-class horses in hugely valuable races while his British colleagues are laid up back home, he has certainly grabbed the opportunity to showcase his talents.

Having driven Addeybb to a first Group 1 victory at Rosehill last month, he showed fine judgement in testing conditions to double the tally for horse and jockey in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

"Tom gave him a lovely ride," said trainer William Haggas. "He just didn't go too early and when he went he went properly and put the race to bed, which was great.

"It's a great thrill for him to get a couple of Group 1s on the board, especially while everything is so quiet over here."

Marquand, who turned 22 last month, had not been confident beforehand and said: "Honestly, I feel I had my dream day a few weeks ago but today I was kind of thinking Addeybb would be vulnerable.

"But what a tough, straightforward, genuine horse. He just switches off, knows when to turn it on, and he just drops his head and runs for you and you don't even have to ask him. It's an honour to ride a horse like that.

"He's a horse who goes through wet ground as if it is not even there. That is just one of his main attributes and shows how tough he is because he just doesn't care. He goes straight over the top of it and today travelling around there was never a moment where I thought I was not going to pick up."

Full Queen Elizabeth Stakes result

In between his two wins on Addeyyb, Marquand also rode a Group-race double at Rosehill and he felt his latest success was particularly significant.

"I think a lot of people are underestimating how much this means to me," the jockey said. "I'm very young and hopefully have quite a long time ahead of me in the saddle but to come down here and win a QE on an English horse, for someone who has given me a lot of support, at a time that has been tough for English racing, it could not mean any more."

Marquand is set to have one last chance to add to his Australian gains next weekend.

"My plan is to go home next Saturday," he said. "Obviously it is getting harder and harder to get home and having ridden at the Championships I've probably had my fair share of luck for this year!"

Marquand told the Racing Post earlier this month that he had thought of being champion jockey "since the age of six years old" and the rider's odds for the title were cut to 8-1 by bet365 after his latest success.

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