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Rival trainer warns Alcohol is lethal

William Haggas has cautioned punters not to underestimate the European mares at Randwick.

ALCOHOL FREE winning the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
ALCOHOL FREE winning the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Having seen Alcohol Free first-hand in England, rival trainer William Haggas concedes the $10 million mare has a mortgage on the Queen Of The Turf Stakes – if she brings her European form to Australia. 

Haggas will start Purplepay in Saturday's Group 1 race and while he is expecting a much-improved performance from his mare at her second local start, he says Alcohol Free is a different class of horse. 

"If the Alcohol Free that was in England turns up, they won't beat her," Haggas said. 

"The thing with Alcohol Free is she's a top-class filly at every distance. She won the Sussex Stakes over a mile, which is a prestigious race, she won the July Cup over six furlongs. She's a really tough, hardy, good filly. 

"Purplepay won't get within a mile of her at home. 

"She has to come to Australia and it's different, it's new connections, new area, new place. But if she turns up in good form, she will win." 

Now with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Alcohol Free will make her Sydney debut in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) where she is an easing $3.50 favourite. 

Haggas' Purplepay has been specked from $41 into $34 and he says she is a much better horse than her unplaced effort in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) suggests. 

Her team has since employed a few tactics to get Purplepay to focus and after watching her work at Canterbury on Wednesday, the UK trainer says he is "delighted" with her form. 

"I think she has been pulling our leg a bit. I don't think she raced at all first time on the (firm) ground and the jockey very kindly looked after her when he realised she couldn't win," Haggas said. 

"She is a better filly than that, but we've had a little bit of a wake-up call since that race. 

"She does like the wet ground but she's a 33-1 shot and rightfully so." 

Tom Marquand will partner Purplepay from barrier 14, while James Mcdonald links with Alcohol Free, who has drawn ideally in gate two. 


Racing and Sports



Randwick Saturday, 08th April 2023

7f210y TURF SOFT
AUD $1,114,500

SYDNEY QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES (G1)

AUD $1,114,500
Age: 3yo and up Sex: FM Type: OPEN
7f210y TURF SOFT
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 8. ATISHU (NZ) 5yo M
SAVABEEL (AUS) - POSY (NZ)
NASH RAWILLER
CHRIS WALLER
$10
57kg
A J A Bosma, Mrs P J Clark, G R Williamson, Mrs C E Young, J B Young, K T Gibbons, D J Pescini, G P Scully, Mrs J P Scully, Dr P H Mitchell, R Satherley, Ms C A Lorre, Ms L T Murphy, R Noble, G F Walling, J C Macdonald, D J Shuker, A Howard, A J Cadigan & J B Williams

Sales Information

2nd 5. HOPE IN YOUR HEART (AUS) 4yo M
DUNDEEL (NZ) - HAYAAT (AUS)
TIM CLARK
KERRY PARKER
$5
57kg
Mrs D R Illes & A Illes

Sales Information

3rd 18. MORE SECRETS (AUS) 5yo M
MORE THAN READY (USA) - SECRET INDULGENCE (NZ)
ZAC LLOYD
M, W & J HAWKES
$101
57kg
Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: N R J Werrett), Mrs P A Hawkes, C H Madden, Mrs J G Madden, D M Taylor, Mrs J Taylor & Dr A L Attebo
4th 4. HINGED (AUS) 4yo M
WORTHY CAUSE (AUS) - TINTS (AUS)
JOAO MOREIRA
CHRIS WALLER
$14
57kg
5th 6. PROMISE OF SUCCESS (GB) 7yo M
DANSILI (GB) - SUMMER SCHOOL (IRE)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
JOHN O'SHEA
$61
57kg

Sales Information

6th 3. LEVANTE (NZ) 6yo M
PROISIR (AUS) - ISLAND DOY (GB)
DAMIAN LANE
KEN & BEV KELSO
$7.5
57kg

Sales Information

7th 15. TIMES SQUARE (FR) 4yo F
ZARAK (FR) - SEE YOU ALWAYS (GB)
HUGH BOWMAN
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$26
57kg

Sales Information

8th 16. BRING THE RANSOM (AUS) 6yo M
SEBRING (AUS) - GOLD EPONA (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
BJORN BAKER
$151
57kg
9th 12. PRIDE OF JENNI (AUS) 5yo M
PRIDE OF DUBAI (AUS) - SANCERRE (NZ)
ROBBIE DOLAN
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$21
57kg

Sales Information

10th 1. ALCOHOL FREE (IRE) 5yo M
NO NAY NEVER (USA) - PLYING (USA)
JAMES MCDONALD
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$3.7
57kg

Sales Information

11th 9. ROOTS (AUS) 4yo M
PRESS STATEMENT (AUS) - ARCTIC SUCCESS (AUS)
BRENTON AVDULLA
CHRIS WALLER
$31
57kg

Sales Information

12th 14. EXCELIDA (AUS) 6yo M
EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) - LADY SAYYIDA (NZ)
BRETT PREBBLE
BEN & JD HAYES
$41
57kg

Sales Information

13th 7. SIRILEO MISS (AUS) 5yo M
PRIDE OF DUBAI (AUS) - SHE'S SIRIUS (AUS)
BEN MELHAM
SYMON WILDE
$6
57kg

Sales Information

14th 10. STATEMENT (IRE) 5yo M
LAWMAN (FR) - FACT OR FOLKLORE (IRE)
JOHN ALLEN
JOSEPH O'BRIEN
$21
57kg

Sales Information

15th 13. PURPLEPAY (FR) 4yo F
ZARAK (FR) - PIEDRA (IRE)
TOM MARQUAND
WILLIAM HAGGAS
$26
57kg

Sales Information

16th 17. FINEPOINT (AUS) 4yo M
PINS (AUS) - ZARZUELA (NZ)
REGAN BAYLISS
CHRIS WALLER
$81
57kg

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