Haggas maps out Group 1 targets for long-absent starlet

William Haggas looks to once again have an exciting squad for the season and he is hopeful last year’s Craven Stakes winner Skardu can lead the way with a breakthrough success at the highest level.

The four-year-old finished third in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the Irish equivalent in 2019 but has been off since August. He is pleasing his trainer at home in Newmarket and will be kept over a mile when racing resumes.

“Skardu’s in great shape but we’re not sure where he’ll go. He’ll either get a small target followed by the Queen Anne or we’ll start him off in the Lockinge. I think at the moment we’ll keep him over a mile,” said Haggas, who had 142 winners last year.

Haggas also trains Addeybb, who returned home at the end of April after recording two Group 1 wins in Australia under Tom Marquand.

“Addeybb’s fine and he’s in great form,” said Haggas. “I don’t know what we’ll do with him yet but we’re planning to keep going and see what happens. He was absolutely wonderful out in Australia and we’re very proud of him.”

Haggas has plenty of three-year-old talent to aim at the Classics and two standout contenders are fillies Domino Darling and Born With Pride.

“We’ve got some promising ones,” he added.

“They’re winners of one race so a long way from being Classic horses, but we all dream. They’re just starting working and we’ll have to look for a trial somewhere and go from there.”