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By Ray Hickson

Could the addition of blinkers to globetrotting gelding Dubai Honour be the magic trick William Haggas performs to give the UK trainer his fourth Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday?

Issy Paul (Pic: Grant Guy).

It’s a formula Haggas has used before with success in the race and it’s interesting at start 37 it’ll be the first time he’s used the shades on the popular visitor.

The eight-year-old has raced in six countries, won four Group 1s and a top five finish in the Group 1 $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) would see him pass $10 million in earnings.

But with the unbeaten Autumn Glow looming large Issy Paul, travelling foreman for Haggas, says now is the right time to try something.

“Hopefully they’ll sharpen him up,’’ she said.

“We did it with Addeybb in his second Queen Elizabeth as well and that seemed to do the trick for him. I’ve given him a little spin in them at home and he was very good.

“He’s an older horse now but he’s bounced out of his run and I’m happy with where he’s at so we’ll give it a good crack.”

Addeybb won the 2020 and 2021 editions of the race and Dubai Honour added his name to the honour roll in 2023. He ran second to Via Sistina a year ago and is following the same pattern by coming through the Tancred Stakes.

He won that race last year and the 2025 edition proved to be an epic with jockey Tom Marquand playing catch me if you can over the 2400m only to be run down in the final strides by Aeliana.

Paul said Autumn Glow presents a big challenge for Dubai Honour but connections haven’t backed away from one down under and there's a chance this may be his final trip to Sydney.

“It’s a pretty big challenge, I’m looking back at his other two runnings though and Via Sistina was a seriously tough ask and he ran a phenomenal race,’’ Paul said.

“And three years ago he came up against Anamoe, who looked a bit unbeatable, and he was able to do it.

“He’s a phenomenal horse, he rarely runs a bad race ever and we’ve got him in a really good place.

“You’ve got to run against what’s up against you. It’s great to see some really exciting races.

“Sometimes the ground might not suit them, and it’s looking like a quick track on Saturday, but you can’t duck and dive. We’ve flown half way across the world and it’s important we run.”

Dubai Honour is a little underestimated, considering his record in Australia, as an $11 chance with TAB on Tuesday and you have to wonder what Marquand has up his sleeve for the race.

Of course he led in the Tancred but Haggas also has stablemate Caviar Heights engaged in the Queen Elizabeth and the vibe is they’ll make it a stamina test.

“I think he’ll be handy again, whether he’ll lead again I’m not sure,’’ she said.

“Dropping the 400m doesn’t necessarily suit him any more, he’s a horse that wants a mile and a half.

“Both our boys are stayers and were going to have to make use of it on Saturday.”

Caviar Heights made his local debut in the Neville Sellwood (2000m) two weeks ago and finished runner-up to Wootton Verni, who also lines up in the Group 1, but is considered one of the rank outsiders.

Paul said it was decided not to go to the two miles of the Sydney Cup and she’d like to see him revert to his on pace pattern from back in Europe.

“He ran a great race the other week, we were shuffled back a little bit and I don’t think that suited him,’’ she said.

Dubai Honour runs second in the Tancred Stakes

“All his form was either from the front or there or thereabouts and stepping up to the Sydney Cup trip would have been a tough ask.

“He can be a little bit keen so stepping him up in trip that far from running over 2000m would have been tricky.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday