Economics will face 11 smart rivals headed by classy French three-year-old Calandagan when he bids to become the first horse since Magical in 2019 to complete the Irish Champion Stakes and QIPCO Champion Stakes double.
Economics bids for Irish Champion Stakes and QIPCO Champion Stakes double (Pic – British Champions Series)
Magical was having her ninth race of the season, and she had run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe between the two races, but Economics’ campaign has been much lighter in comparison and he will be having just the fifth race of his career when he arrives at Ascot unbeaten this year and one of the most exciting middle-distance performers in the world.
William Haggas won the 2020 QIPCO Champion Stakes with a very different type in seven-year-old Addeybb, but he suffered a shock defeat with 1-4 chance Baaeed two years later. He thought Economics the colt did particularly well to get the better of Auguste Rodin by a neck in Ireland after last year’s dual Derby winner had looked to be going the better, but he is taking nothing for granted and has a healthy respect for Calandagan in particular.
Economics (right) ridden by jockey Tom Marquand on their way to winning the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse (Pic – Healy Racing – PA Wire)
Haggas, who has no regrets about sidestepping the Derby after Economics’ six-length win in the Dante, said: “The Irish Champion Stakes was a very strong race and Leopardstown is a very, very complicated track, so you need a lot of luck. I thought Tom (Marquand) was exceptional there and he came in and said Economics was a tough horse as it was very messy. He felt he asked a lot of the horse at various times, and he didn’t let him down. He’s a good horse, but it was a tough race, and he’s needed every week to come to his best for Saturday.”
Haggas is not unduly worried about softer conditions even though Economics’ three big wins have all been on good ground or faster. He said: “I’m not going to pull him out because of the ground. He’s won on fast ground this year and we’ll see whether he copes. I think he’ll be okay, because I think he’s very versatile, but it will be top of the list of excuses if it all goes wrong I suppose.”
Asked about the threat that the Juddmonte International runner-up Calandagan might pose, he said: “Calandagan is obviously a very good horse and he’s a danger to everyone. He was very impressive at Royal Ascot. I think he’ll need every inch of the trip, but it will be very interesting.”
Trainer Francis Graffard was thrilled with Calandagan at York, where he felt the gelding ran “a fantastic race and accelerated strongly”. He pointed out that the main difference between York and Champions Day will likely be the ground, but he is not concerned on that score.
Los Angeles and Ryan Moore win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) Pic – Healy Racing-focusonracing.com)
Jockey Stephane Pasquier is full of confidence. He has said “it would need something very special to beat him – it would need City Of Troy to beat him!”
While the pair dominate the betting, it is no two-horse race, and from a typically strong entry Aidan O’Brien has chosen to be represented by last year’s St Leger winner Continuous and the year younger Irish Derby winner Los Angeles, who was most recently seen running a tremendous race from the front when third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
See The Fire and David Probert (purple) winning The Tiber Tiger British EBF “Newcomers” Maiden Fillies’ Stakes Newmarket (Pic – Dan Abraham-focusonracing.com)
A back-to-form Nashwa would also be a threat. John and Thady Gosden’s mare is a triple Group 1 winner and runs here in preference to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and is entitled to be all the sharper for her recent run behind Tamfana at Newmarket, when she had been off the track since March.
See The Fire, third in the Newmarket race, steps back up to the ten furlongs over which she was beaten only a neck by Opera Singer in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and fourth in the Coral-Eclipse. Trainer Andrew Balding said: “I was delighted with her run over a mile in the Sun Chariot and she had some good horses behind her. She is going to have a long holiday after this.”
Anmaat has to put behind him a below-par run at Longchamp, but Jim Crowley is inclined to forgive him and said: “That’s the first time he’s run a bad race. We’ve no real excuse for that, but the race was run at a very slow tempo, which probably wouldn’t have suited him. He has to take a big step up on even his best form, but he’s a Group 1 winner and he likes cut in the ground.”
Royal Rhyme and Cilifford Lee winning The Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Doonside Cup Stakes Ayr (Pic – Dan Abraham-focusonracing.com)
Karl Burke saddles last year’s fifth Royal Rhyme and said: “He is in great form and I am praying the ground is soft or even heavier. On faster ground he was only three and a half lengths behind them in the Irish Champion. On soft ground, I’d be very hopeful of turning around that form. He is getting better and stronger with every race.”
King’s Gambit is stepping up in class and down in distance. Harry Charlton said: “His form has been solid all year – second to Jayarebe in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot and third to Arc third Illinois at York – and coming back to ten furlongs after York will suit. He fully deserves his chance and I don’t think he will be far away.”
Iresine, whose win in last month’s Prix Foy was his second in the race, joins Calandagan from France. His rider Marie Velon was the first female to ride a Group 1 winner in France has won no fewer than 15 times on him.
Iresine (M Velon) after winning the Prix Ganay (Group 1). ParisLongchamp (Pic – Dyga-focusonracing.com)
Velon is excited and said: “To ride in the Champion Stakes on Iresine is a dream, as he is the best horse of my life. Calandagan and Economics are the best horses of the season, but I will count on Iresine’s experience to beat them. He will be 100% for Saturday and the ground will be perfect for him. I can’t wait!”
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