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By Ray Hickson

It’s not like a William Haggas visitor to Sydney to go about his business virtually unnoticed but that’s the situation reigning Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest finds himself in prior to Saturday’s Group 1 $5m King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick

Issy Paul, stable rep for William Haggas. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

With all the hype around Ka Ying Rising, Lake Forest’s trackwork rider and Haggas’ stable rep Isabella Paul has been out of the limelight and she says that suits her and the horse just fine.

The five-year-old was the Newmarket trainer’s first spring winner in Sydney when he stole the Golden Eagle in the last few strides and Paul said if he wins the King Charles III it’ll be in the same fashion.

“We know he’s never going to jump well, and he’s never going to chase them early, so a good tempo will suit him,’’ she said.

“He can sometimes do it to himself, he’s a little bit lazy and takes a while and when he does get rolling he’s really fast.

“If he can do what he did in the Golden Eagle and pick them off late that’s ideal for him.”

Since Lake Forest was last in Australia he’s had five starts and while winless in those races Paul said there’s been merit in most of them and particularly in his past two starts.

They’ve been second placings in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes (1408m) at Goodwood and his half length defeat in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes (1408m) in August.

He’s contested the mile once for a fifth placing in the Queen Anne Stakes (1609m) at Royal Ascot and given he won the Golden Eagle off a 1207m run he’s arguably had a better preparation in 2025.

“He’s run some really nice races, I thought he was pretty unlucky in the City Of York,’’ Paul said.

“He had a freshen up before the Lennox and that seemed to really help him. He’s in really good order, he’s an easy horse to travel because he’s so laid back.

“Sometimes I think he can be too laid back in his races which is what can get him beaten.”

The form out of the Golden Eagle has been well documented with almost half the field winning at Group 1 level since the race.

Paul said there’s no doubt Lake Forest, $7 with TAB in all-in betting on Monday and to be ridden by Zac Purton, will need to be at his best in the King Charles but given how well he’s travelled there’s every reason to believe he can be.

“He’s filled out a little bit, he feels like a slightly more solid horse than last year,’’ she said.

“He’s in great form, but you never want to jump the gun.

“I think the mile will suit, the ground will suit, I think the track will suit, it should be a good tempo and he should put up a good performance.”

There’s a degree of confidence from Paul that Lake Forest’s travelling companion Sam Hawkens can make his presence felt in the Group 3 $500,000 ATC St Leger Stakes (2600m).

The OTI owned five-year-old has won his past three starts from 2504m to 2816m and will be joining the John O’Shea & Tom Charlton stable after Everest Day.

Paul said Sam Hawkens has a good profile for success in Australia, she rates him as a progressive stayer and is confident enough he’ll handle the ground based on the horses the stable has travelled here before.

Last year’s Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest is back to contest Saturday’s $5m King Charles III Stakes at Randwick. He works out at Canterbury. pic.twitter.com/wys2HWpARi

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 12, 2025

“My only reservation with him would be I think he wants some cut in the ground,” she said.

“But we’re of the opinion that horses who want it soft at home don’t necessarily want it soft over here.

“We always thought Dubai Honour was a proper wet track horse but he ran some of his better races on better ground.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him run, he’s done well out here and seems to be just loving it.

“He’s looking good, he’s training really well, I think he’s one that could have a nice future here.”

Bullet Point, a third horse from the Haggas stable, will arrive on Wednesday to contest the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) run at Rosehill on November 8.

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