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By Ray Hickson

It’s not been often in recent years UK trainer William Haggas has claimed the underdog status in a Sydney feature race but that’s what he feels reflects Lake Forest’s chances in Saturday’s $10 million James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

Trainer William Haggas (Pic: Edward Whitaker)

Haggas is of course no stranger to racegoers having won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times, with Addeybb in 2020 and 2021 and Dubai Honour in 2023.

Lake Forest will be his first foray into the Sydney spring carnival and while he concedes it’ll be no easy task the trainer says he has a horse with plenty of ability.

“He’s a 25/1 shot, that about sums him up, but he’s not a bad horse,’’ Haggas said.

“He has a love of fast ground and he’s only had few opportunities this year in England. I have a fresh horse and a fit horse who needs to run and this looks a good opportunity, but it’s a hell of a tough race.”

To date all seven of Lake Forest’s starts have been over 1207m, he’s won twice including a Group 2 at York and has been runner-up in his two runs in 2024 with a strong finish a feature of both performances.

He notched a Group 1 second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June while he came from near last to run Elite Status to half a length in a Group 3 at Newbury in July.

Haggas had planned to test him out beyond that trip with a view to the Golden Eagle but things went awry and he’ll just back his belief that 1500m won’t be an issue.

“When I went to run him at 1400m in England (at York in August) he got his leg over the stalls and he had to be withdrawn so we never got to find out,’’ he said.

“He’s quite small but I think he could be better at this distance. He ran six furlongs at Ascot and he was coming home well so it’s worth a shot.

“It’s going to be hard but I like a challenge.”

Tom Marquand has ridden the four-year-old in six of his seven starts with Cieren Fallon on board in the other and Fallon will be the pilot at Rosehill on Saturday.

He’s the son of former champion jockey Kieren Fallon and the 25-year-old rode at the Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday before getting a taste of race riding down under at Wyong on Thursday ahead of his Golden Eagle assignment.

Lake Forest, $17 with TAB on Tuesday, arrived at Canterbury earlier in October with Haggas’ assistant Isabella Paul and reports to back home suggest he’s settled in well.

Haggas has a great deal of respect for the international competition in the Golden Eagle, singling out unbeaten French gelding Lazzat, and said Lake Forest’s racing style will mean he’ll need a generous amount of luck in the 20 horse field.

“Isabella seems happy, she’s been quiet which is good so we haven’t had issues at the moment,’’ he said.

“Lazzat is very good, he goes forward and gets the trip. I think he is a pretty good horse. Of the local horses I thought Joliestar ran a terrific race in the Everest.

“I think Lake Forest is tough, fresh, I’d much prefer it to be at Randwick but it doesn’t go like that.

Back to back course and distance victories for Elite Status as he wins the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury. 🏆

Clearly a very talented young horse on his day. 🌟pic.twitter.com/qu3AS12a2K

— GG (@ggcouk) July 20, 2024

Lake Forest runs second at Newbury in July. Video: At The Races.

“Rosehill is very much a speed track so there’s a danger he will get too far back but he will come home. It’s whether he comes home quickly enough.”

Meanwhile, Haggas said another trip to Sydney next autumn for Dubai Honour could be on the cards after he heads to December’s Hong Kong International meeting.

The seven-year-old won a Group 1 in France back in June before finishing unplaced in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in late July, he then ran second in a Group 1 in Germany at his latest start.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Golden Eagle at Rosehill