Tom Marquand onboard Economics on his way to winning. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
In the UK the Willam Haggas-trained Economics might well have produced the world’s best performance of the year in winning the Gr 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes.
When a horse is caught wide without cover it usually spells doom for his of her chances, but in Economics case he was not only able to overcome such a disadvantage but he also got the better of a great horse like Auguste Rodin in a duel for the line.
Economics beat the six-time Group 1 winner by a neck to make it four wins in a row, including two Group 2s and Saturday’s Group 1.
When Economics won one of the Epsom Derby’s traditional pointer races, the Dante, in highly impressive fashion at York most expected him to appear in the Derby.
However, Haggas had withdrawn him from the Derby before that win at York and said, “I didn’t think it was the right track and the right race for him at this stage of his career.”
When calls came to supplement him into the Derby for £75,000 he stuck to his guns, saying, “”We want to give him more time, he’s a big lovely, scopey horse. It’s a shame these races come up so quickly and he just needs some more time, that’s my view.”
He was vindicated when Economics won the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano over a mile and two furlongs last month, but the bigger vindication came on Saturday.
Economics looks to now have the world at his feet.
However, Haggas has ruled out a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and is instead set to round off his season in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.
The Irish Examiner wrote the below report on Satuday’s race:
Tommy Lyons
From a maiden at the start of the season to Group 1 winner in mid-September, the William Haggas-trained Economics completed his journey to the top with a terrifically game display in a pulsating renewal of the Royal Bahrain Champion Stakes, the feature on the Leopardstown leg of Champions Festival.
With Irish and English Derby winners, a Japanese Derby third, a former winner of this race, and numerous other high-class performers in the field, there was something to prove for the lightly raced three-year-old who travelled to Deauville for his most recent success, in a Group 2. In the heat of battle, however, he was not found wanting.
When market rival Auguste Rodin made his move in the straight, it looked as though his class and experience would prevail.
The previously strong-travelling Economics was under pressure and looking likely to have to settle for a minor role, but he appeared to appreciate the presence of Auguste Rodin on his right and responded to the challenge in the best manner possible.
With Tom Marquand at his most persuasive, he found a little, then found more, and kept on finding all the way to the line to shade the verdict by a neck, with Japanese raider Shin Emperor making impressive late gains to take third place.
“That’s one we can all walk away from pretty satisfied,” said Marquand. “He’s not only a very good racehorse, he’s an absolute warrior, and very, very few horses possess both.
“I had moments where I was worried, but he always felt like he was there for it. Auguste Rodin obviously showed up every bit as good, so he had to be very good. I was just thrilled.”
Recounting the race, he explained: “To be honest, I changed my plan a couple of times. I thought I’d gotten into a nice position and just, for whatever reason, I didn’t really feel happy there, so I just moved on a little bit further, and he possesses that real nice trait of being able to lie up and just shut back down.
“He still remains so, so exciting. I really think so (next year will be his year). I’m just thrilled to be part of him so far, and hopefully what’s to come.
“It’s been pivotal to my career (teaming up with Haggas), to take it to the next step, and I’m so fortunate to be receiving these opportunities for various people, and we have a lot of fun and I just want to enjoy as much success as we can together.”
On a day he will never forget, this was the completion of a Group 1 double for the rider as a little earlier he had reestablished his partnership with Porta Fortuna and together they took the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes.
In the saddle when she finished runner-up in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was back on board the Falmouth Stakes winner for the third time and this was as straight-forward as any success.
Donnacha O’Brien’s incredibly uncomplicated filly sat just off the pace, picked up when asked, and was value for more than the winning margin of a length.
That said, runner-up Fallen Angel ran a superb race on her return, as did Ylang Ylang, who caught the eye in finishing fourth.
Of the winner, Donnacha O’Brien said: “She’s an incredible filly. She shows up every day, and it’s a huge honour and pleasure to trainer her. I’m lucky to have her. You can never be confident going into a Group 1 – they’re always hard to win no matter what the bookies are saying – but she makes it look easy.
“She’s always been good, but you can never be sure they’re going to develop into something like that. You can never dream of that. She’s very special.
“All being well, we’ll be going to Del Mar.”
