Pivotal gelding proves too strong in Queen Elizabeth.
British raider Addeybb (6 g ex Bush Cat by Kingmambo) retained his perfect record in Australia as he proved far superior to his classy rivals in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick on Saturday, following up his last start victory in the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
On paper it looked to be a race between the son of Pivotal (Polar Falcon) and Japanese rival Danon Premium (Deep Impact), and as the field entered the straight it shaped up to be the mouth-watering contest all racing fans had prayed for, as James McDonald sent the son of Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) in pursuit of the front running Addeybb.
But the William Haggas-trained gelding responded well to Tom Marquand's urgings, widening the gap with every stride to come away with a decisive two and three quarter length victory over Verry Elleegant (Zed), who snatched second off Danon Premium in the dying strides.
Haggas' assistant trainer Harry Eustace - who has been overseeing the training of Addeybb while the gelding has been in Australia - said it was great to see the long range plan of the Queen Elizabeth come together.
"The commentator got it spot on when he said: 'this is what we have all been waiting for', said Eustace. "As they turned in and the Japanese horse made his move, it was what we had all been waiting for. But it was so nice to see him finish like he did, he just put them to bed in a matter of strides.
"The track conditions meant that there weren't excuses for any horse. They said Danon Premium didn't handle it at all, which is fair enough. But it looked to be an incredibly fair track.
"Although it turned out to be a race winning move from Tom, but it looked like he might just get swamped and horses came across him early and he just picked back up to make sure he held his position, which meant he was in the box seat. He made it a good test from the front and out battled them in the end.
"It was just a great result and brilliant for everyone who put in the hard graft back at home."
Eustace was also effusive in his praise for Marquand - who has been dubbed 'Aussie Tom' since arriving in Australia - and he was celebrating his second Group 1 win on Saturday, having snared his first aboard the Haggas-trained gelding in the Ranvet three weeks' ago.
"Considering his age, he is so cool and calm and always seems to make the right decision in race," said Eustace. "He seems to always have the horses in the right place at the right time, which puts your mind at ease."
Purchased by Shadwell for 200,000gns (approximately $415,000) at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the gelding has now won nine of his 17 starts which has seen him accumulate $2,741,718 in career prize-money.
Addeybb is out of Bush Cat (Kingmambo) making him a half-brother to Grade 3-placed Meer Kat (Red Ransom) as well as four other winners.
Bush Cat herself is out of German Listed winner Arbusha (Danzig), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Busha' (Mercer Mill) and Rip 'N' Run (Mercer Mill).
Further back this is the same family as Group 1 scorer Strategic Choice (Alleged) and Group 2 winner Nicholas (Danzig).
Addeybb and Avilius are the stallion's only Group 1 winners in Australia. The gelding is the second Group 1 winner for the Pivotal / Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector) cross - with the other being dual Group 1 winner Regal Parade.
Pivotal's 2020 fee at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket is advertised as private.
Earlier in the day, Eustace's younger brother David, who trains in partnership with Ciraon Maher, sent out a Group 1 winner himself, when Etah James (7 m ex Etah by Danasinga) landed a shock win in the Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) to become the White Robe Lodge-based sire Raise The Flag's (Sadlers Wells) first elite level winner.
Having her first start for the Maher / Eustace yard having been trained by Matt Cumani, the mare sliced through the field to beat The Chosen One (Savabeel) by a head.
Annabel Neasham, assistant trainer to Maher and Eustace, who oversees the Sydney stable at Warwick Farm, said the plan was always to target the Sydney Cup with the mare.
"She ran in the Auckland Cup and it made sense to go from that to the Sydney Cup," said Neasham. "She is a natural stayer so she didn't need a run leading into it. She is very uncomplicated, very versatile on ground and her work leading into the race has been very good - she's just a dour stayer.
"The original plan was to go to the Brisbane Cup, but there is no Brisbane Cup, so we could go to the Tattersall's Cup. She will stay up here and target something like the St Leger in the Spring.
"She is very uncomplicated and very sweet natured. Bossy was very bullish coming into this. He had galloped her twice at home and he was very keen to ride her."
Meanwhile, Etah James is one of four winners out of winning mare Etah (Danasinga), who is herself a sister to Group 3 winner Tickle.
Raise The Flag is the sire of seven stakes winners in total and he stood for a fee of NZ$6,000 (plus GST) in 2019.
It was a brilliant day for the Maher / Eustace team - who sent out Away Game (Snitzel) to win the Percy Sykes Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), while later on in the afternoon at Caulfield Bam's On Fire (4 f ex Im Your Fire by Holy Roman Emperor) landed her first stakes victory when winning the Anniversary Cup (Gr 3, 1400m). The win provided Scenic Lodge-based sire Universal Ruler (Scenic) with his ninth stakes winner.
Of Away Game, Neasham commented: "I would be a millionaire for every person who has asked me when she is going to the paddock. There is no rule on when we spell horses and she has never indicated she wants a spell. She weighs more today than she did before the Slipper and she's just got a great constitution and will to win.
"She just brings her A Game to every race. She is just a tough tenacious filly who never lets us down. She's unbelievable. It's great for Hannah Matheison, Kerri Radcliffe and Mrs Fung - who is also part of the ownership as well."
