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By Ray Hickson

When master UK trainer William Haggas sends a horse to Sydney we’ve learned to treat them with respect – so how does Al Mubhir fit in to Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill?

Isabella Paul, stable rep for trainer William Haggas.

It’s a race Haggas has won twice – with Addeybb in 2020 and Dubai Honour in 2023 – among his slew of victories in Sydney that also includes three Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a Golden Eagle, three Manion Cups and the Sky High Stakes.

Isabella Paul, the Haggas stable’s travelling rep, said it’s obvious that Al Mubhir has a job ahead of him to beat one of the world’s highest rated horses in Via Sistina.

But she’s adamant the six-year-old, a winner of four from 23, has the talent to be competitive if he decides to produce it on race day.

“His win at Sandown was pretty good over 2000m and mentally he’s very good,’’ Paul said.

“He’s a Frankel out of a Group 3 winning mare and we’ve always thought a lot of him at home.

“He just fits the profile of a horse that would do well out here.

“He’s a horse that works the house down at home, but sometimes he doesn’t translate that to the afternoon. He’s a horse that has a bit to prove and I’m excited to see him run.”

It was expected that Dubai Honour would make his return to Sydney in the Ranvet but Haggas has elected to hold him back for the Tancred Stakes (2400m) on Saturday week.

Tom Marquand has ridden Al Mubhir for the bulk of his starts and was on board in his most recent win over 2011m at Sandown last July.

Paul said the gelding has settled in quite well to Canterbury and, like back home, is continuing to work to a high level.

“He’s working with Dubai Honour down here and his work is as good as Dubai Honour’s so there’s no reason he couldn’t perform nicely,’’ she said.

“I think he’s got a great mind for it, a bit like Dubai Honour, he won a Listed race nicely at Sandown last year.

“He could probably do with a bit more cut in the ground but he’s a lovely big, sound, horse and he is the ideal mentality and type to come down here.

“I think that’s where the boss is at and hopefully he can put up a good run.”

In his Sandown win, Marquand positioned Al Mubhir third with a trail before producing him in the home straight where he had a short battle before edging away.

He’s been respected by the market as $6.50 second favourite in the Ranvet and Paul said in an ideal world he’ll be able to replicate the Sandown scenario.

“He can be a little bit keen in his runs so you’d like to see him with a bit of cover but Tom will just ride him as he finds him,’’ she said.

“He’s settled really nicely down here so that all bodes well. We’ll have to play it by ear a little bit.

Al Mubhir quickens well to win the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes with Tom Marquand onboard for the William Haggas stable! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/R3qGXxLwn1

— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) July 5, 2024

Al Mubhir wins at Sandown in July. (Video: Sandown Park on X)

“If he can finish top three we’d be delighted with him. He is a Listed winner and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility. Via Sistina is an absolute machine and is going to be very tough to beat but we are here with horses we think have got a chance.

“We wouldn’t be running him if we didn’t believe he had the ability. It’ll be interesting to get more of a gauge.”

Where Al Mubhir heads during The Star Championships will be determined by his effort at Rosehill, he’s nominated for the Doncaster Mile, where he has 53kg, and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

All the fields, form and replays for Golden Slipper day at Rosehill