William Haggas eyes Golden Eagle riches with Craven Stakes winner Skardu

William Haggas is keen to try and secure a piece of the $A7.5 million (£4.08 million/€4.61m) prize fund in the inaugural Golden Eagle at Rosehill in November, with Skardu being lined up for the race.

The Craven Stakes winner has emerged as one of the top three-year-old colts this season, finishing third in the 2,000 Guineas then fourth in the Irish equivalent and St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Speaking to Sky Sports Radio, Haggas outlined his plan of action for Skardu, and said: "He's a smart horse and we're very tempted to come.

"I'm planning to run him in a Group 2 next Friday [Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket] and should everything go well and I'm happy with him, he'll be on the plane to Sydney."

Haggas wants to give Skardu the run at Newmarket before heading into quarantine, and is keen to see how the son of Shamardal measures up against the best Australia has to offer.

The trainer added: "How good the crop of three-year-olds are nobody really knows yet until we assess them at the backend of the season, but I think they're a pretty useful crop and he's not far off the top.

"He's shown a lot of decent form on fast ground which is one of the reasons for coming, but I think he'll cope with slowish ground."

A run in Australia before the Golden Eagle would not be a necessity for Skardu according to Haggas, who is also planning to return in 2020 for the Sydney Championships in April.

Addeybb: could be another of the Haggas team heading down underCredit: Edward Whitaker

Young Rascal, who was highly progressive last year, when winning four of five starts, but has not been seen since the Guineas meeting this season, is under consideration for the Sydney Cup, while Royal Ascot hero Addeybb could contest the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

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