Tom Marquand

Eight high-profile overseas jockeys will join four Hong Kong-based riders to compete for the HK$500,000 top prize in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship to be held at the iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island Wednesday, Dec. 8. Ryan Moore is set to jet in to make a 15th appearance at the IJC, having dead-heated for the spoils with John Murtagh and Christophe Lemaire in 2009 before winning the title outright 12 months hence. Moore, who has finished on the podium four times since his most recent victory, currently...

Saturday belonged to William Haggas, with two of the Newmarket handler's pattern-race successes coming at the same time during an action-packed period mid-afternoon. While Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) was causing an upset at Deauville in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, the yard's Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was tearing it up in Newbury's G2 BetVictor Hungerford S. Back from a weather-enforced break having failed to see out the mile of the G1 1000 Guineas when seventh at Newmarket May 2, Cheveley Park Stud's impressive G3 Nell...

With the weather staying clear ahead of Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, David Ward's Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) had his day to deliver on all the abundant promise he had shown so far in his brief career in a strong renewal. Successful in the May 12 G2 Duke of York S. over this six-furlong trip, the 9-2 second favourite was buried in mid-division of the group racing stand's side throughout the early stages with the pace rapid up ahead. Staying on powerfully up the rising ground to...

After Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) had provided William Haggas with solace for having to watch the G1 Epsom Derby take place without his star colts, M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) also came to Royal Ascot to add further consolation in Friday's G2 King Edward VII S. There is no doubt he would have played a major role in this year's blue riband on the bare form of his defeat of Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial, but after a subsequent setback this...

Tom Marquand will be sponsored by the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club, the organisation announced on Twitter. Marquand booted home Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) to win the 2020 G1 St Leger and he has also enjoyed international success in Australia with MG1SW Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) among others. "We are delighted to announce the sponsorship of Classic-winning jockey Tom Marquand," the REHC tweeted. "Tom will be providing exclusive content and interviews on the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club social channels." Added Marquand in a tweet, "I am delighted to...

Bouncing back from a fourth in last month's Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket on seasonal comeback, Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) dented a number of Classic aspirations with a determined victory in Wednesday's G3 Chester Vase. He had bettered a debut fourth over seven furlongs at Haydock when annexing a hot Newmarket maiden tackling the same trip next time and hit the board contesting Goodwood's July 28 G2 Vintage S. in the last of three juvenile outings. The April-foaled bay was let go at 15-2 and settled...

One of the lesser-fancied 3-year-old colts in the line-up for Friday's G3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown, M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) nevertheless emerged front and centre with no hint of fluke as he split the Godolphin duo of Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Runner-up in the Listed Ascendant S. on soft ground at Haydock in September, the William Haggas-trained 25-1 shot was sent forward from the break by Tom Marquand and made certain that Yibir was unable to enjoy an easy time there....

Trainer William Haggas said his team in Australia is "really happy" with G1 Champion S. winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) ahead of the 7-year-old's defense of his G1 Queen Elizabeth S. title at Randwick on Saturday, and that he thinks some rainfall will help the gelding turn the tables on star local mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), who beat him first up in the G1 Ranvet S. on Mar. 27, which Addeybb also won last year. "They are really happy with him, but we could do with some rain....

Only three horses in the world finished the season with a rating higher than Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), and certainly none of them have won Group 1 races in two hemispheres within 2020. Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's homebred 6-year-old may not have received the recognition he deserves for his exploits throughout the year, but it is safe to say that he is fully appreciated by his trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand. It is also not an exaggeration to say that, as much of the racing world went into...

Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Hollie Doyle, who is also a nominee for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, has been nominated for four Lesters Awards, leading all nominations. Seven Lesters are voted on by members of the Professional Jockeys Association, with the Flat Ride of the Year picked by Racing TV viewers and the Jump Ride of the Year selected by Sky Sports Racing Viewers. Polls have closed and all winners will be announced during a live show at 6 p.m. on Sky Sports Racing on Dec....

The Longines International Jockeys' Championship, set for Wednesday evening at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse, marks the true start of Hong Kong International Races week, as 12 of the world's top jockey's compete for the HK$500,000 winner's share of the HK$800,000 on offer. Though the crowds won't be there, owing to an uptick in the number of COVID cases over the last few weeks, six locally based riders will face a half-dozen of their peers that have jetted in from Europe, with a revised format in the distribution of mounts that...

All day long at Ascot, it was a case of deep-ground lovers need only apply and one who certainly fit that category was Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and he duly carried off the feature G1 QIPCO Champion S. Going through the conditions with an ease his rivals could not match, last year's runner-up finally registered a first top-level success in his native country having annexed the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. during a Spring campaign in Australia. Well-positioned in second by Tom Marquand throughout the early stages,...