Tom Marquand seeking more Group 1 success with Addeybb and Young Rascal

With a first Group 1 winner as well as landing plenty of big-money prizes, it has been some time for Tom Marquand in Australia – and he bids to enhance his growing reputation down under with two live Group 1 chances at Randwick on Saturday.

Marquand landed the first top-level success of his career when guiding the William Haggas-trained Addeybb to victory in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill last month and the pair will team up again for the Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Randwick cards and form

Addeybb, who chased home Magical in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, has made a name for himself in Britain as being a bit of a mudlark, with his wins last season coming on soft ground in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot and on heavy ground in a Group 3 at Haydock.

It therefore came as a bit of a surprise to Marquand when Addeybb toughed it out to win at Rosehill on good to soft but, with rain forecast at Randwick in the build-up to the race, he could get his optimum conditions this time.

Addeybb's biggest danger is Japanese star Danon Premium, who was a Grade 1 winner during a champion juvenile season in 2017 and was last seen when finishing second to Indy Champ in the Mile Championship in November.

The Mitsumasa Nakauchida-trained five-year-old also chased home Almond Eye in October, beaten three lengths, and he brings some classy form to the race.

Marquand and Haggas team up in the other Group 1 on the Randwick card, the Schweppes Sydney Cup, with Young Rascal.

The five-year-old impressed when winning a Group 3 handicap at Rosehill last time and is a warm order to land his first top-level success.

An international audience from 60 countries will witness the action, and Australian Turf Club general manager James Ross is looking forward to the action being watched on such a global scale.

"Sydney has high-quality international runners competing in the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes and it's even more encouraging that both Northern hemisphere contenders, rated 119 internationally, are headlining such a competitive race," said Ross.

"The Queen Elizabeth contains ten Group 1 winners and these runners have amassed more than $40 million in prize-money, which speaks volumes for their achievements.

"To attract a champion Japanese juvenile and a British Champion Stakes contender to compete alongside this season's winners of the Iron Jack Golden Eagle, Melbourne Cup, Ranvet Stakes and Kia Tancred Stakes highlights what a world-class field will assemble at Royal Randwick.

"Overall the Sydney Carnival attracted 31 international entries in February and to receive such high-quality participation from leading trainers such as Mr Haggas and Mr Nakauchida when the global situation has brought racing in many countries to a standstill is very encouraging."

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