Isabella Paul, aide to William Haggas, cannot quite grasp that after hauling Caviar Heights halfway around the planet, his chief adversary at Rosehill hails from the local scene and is top-drawer.
Accompanying veteran world-traveller stablemate Dubai Honour to Australia, the five-year-old gears up for the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) this Saturday, an event that also marks the local bow for $10 million import Barnavara, victor in his most recent Group 1.
“That’s going to be tough for us,” Paul said.
“She is a top class filly. But I’m very happy, I don’t think we could have him in a better place.
“It always helps having Dubai Honour down here because he is such a pro.
“The other horse has followed his lead. I’m really happy with where they’re at. They look fantastic in their coats, they are maintaining their weight well, and I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”
Dubai Honour brings ample familiarity with Australia as a Tancred Stakes candidate, this being his third time in Sydney, while Caviar Heights is fresher to these parts.
Predominantly, his quality form derives from European Listed races, including two strong finishes trained by Haggas through the winter in England.
He has been a horse in development for Paul, given his inclination “to be a little bit free” in races and sessions, though he is now progressing well.
“He led on both those occasions, and – we haven’t talked tactics with the boss yet – but I wonder whether we might just try to drop him in,” she said.
“He probably wants to be fairly handy, but he just has that tendency to slightly over-race. We saw it in his last run last season. He led and he was pestered, and it didn’t suit him at all, and he finished fifth of six.
“Hopefully, if we can just get him to do it the right way, he’s got a big future ahead of him.”
Unlike many from Europe, Caviar Heights’ results are chiefly on good going, with a juvenile placing on soft to boot.
The Haggas pair will have Tom Marquand aboard once again.
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