The Best Horses Trained by William Haggas

After another smash and grab in Australia by the William Haggas team this weekend I thought I would look back at a few talented horses to come out of Somerville Lodge Stables over the past four years. 

You may have remembered Hanibal Smith from the A-Team saying “I love it when a plan comes together” but I Imagine William Haggas was saying the same thing in the early hours of Sunday morning as ADDEYBB won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Australia. A well-hatched plan was executed to perfection as Addeybb won by over 2-lengths. The Pivotal chestnut gelding is owned by Sheikh Al Maktoum and was bought at the 2015 October Yearling Sales for 200,000 gns. It's safe to say that was a great investment as Addeybbs prize money has already hit a high of £1,469,283 with his last two Group one victories bumping it up significantly in what has been an outstanding career for the 6-year-old. 

SEA OF CLASS has to be on the list with two Group one wins to her name. The Sea The Stars mare was bought for 170,000 gns at the 2016 December Yearling Sales for owners Sunderland Holding Inc. Unraced at two but certainly made up for it in a tremendous debut season as a three-year-old when winning the Group 1 Irish and Yorkshire Oaks just to name a couple of big wins and in doing so has picked up £1,501,911 in prize money. 

Sire Sea The Stars makes it on the list again this time with a 9-year-old chestnut gelding called MUTAKAYYEF. The Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum gelding was bought at the 2012 October Yearling Sales for 260,000 gns. Mutakayyef is as consistent as they come after only finishing unplaced once in her career, but he can be forgiven for that as it was the Group 1 at Meydan where he faded to finish fifth. Twice a winner of the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot plus other Group victories saw his career total prize money stand at £700,910. 

Owned and bred by Lael Stable, ONE MASTER has been on more holidays around the world than Judith Charmers. On a serious note the Fastnet Rock mare has travelled far and wide in search of Group success and hasn't done too bad to be honest. Group wins in England, Ireland and France have seen her rack up prize money totaling £721,829 to date. A fifth in the Breeders Cup Mile and fifth again in the Hong Kong Mile make One Master a horse who isn't afraid to travel and mix it with the big guns. 

TASLEET is a seven-year-old bay Showcasing horse owned by Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum. A pretty cheap purchase at the 2014 Premier Yearling Sales for £52,000. Tasleet had a decent first season winning the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes and a second in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood on his next start. More Group wins followed with the Greenham and the Group 2 Clipper Logistic Stakes making Tasleet a horse to be reckoned with. Currently standing at Nunnery Stud. Tasleet ended his career with prize money totaling £650,153. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Author: Craig Newton

**KNOW THE BEST HORSES IN TRAINING (BEFORE THEY RACE!)**