British horseman William Haggas chases a Group 1 double at Royal Randwick on Saturday including saddling-up hot favourite Young Rascal in the 2020 Sydney Cup field.

NE Manion Cup winning raider Young Rascal is tipped to salute in Saturday’s 2020 Sydney Cup over the 3200m. Photo: Steve Hart.

On Slipper Day Haggas prepared two winners with Addeybb winning the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and progress Intello five-year-old Young Rascal fighting off Mugatoo to salute in the Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m).

Both horses race again on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ with Addeybb chasing the $2 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) victory, while Young Rascal jumps the punters’ pick in the Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).

Prizemoney for the two-mile classic has been reduced to $1 million to help the industry cope with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, but the class of the 13-horse Sydney Cup field remains top notch.

Young Rascal dominates the Sydney Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au paying a short $2.45 and firming to complete the NE Manion Cup – Sydney Cup double for the first time since The Offer (2014).

Yet to win over further than a mile and a half, the step-up to 3200m is the only query for Young Rascal who looks well-weighted dropping back from 59kg to 56kg this weekend even after his 1kg penalty.

Tom Marquand retains the ride and the dynamic duo are drawn barrier 10.

Just two other runners are under double-figures in the latest Sydney Cup odds with the Kris Lees-trained duo Mustajeer ($5) and Raheen House ($8) tipped as the dangers.

Mustajeer carries the 57.5kg topweight in the Sydney Cup field for 2020, the seven-year-old coming off the distant second to Chris Waller’s star mare Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on March 28.

His only other 3200m assignment was in last year’s Melbourne Cup when second last (23^rd) behind Vow And Declare, a performance he is out to atone for in Sydney on Saturday from barrier four with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

Lees chases his second Sydney Cup success following that with Country Tyrone back in 2006 and also saddles-up Sea The Stars six-year-old Raheen House in barrier three.

Raheen House won his way into the Sydney Cup field via his dominant victory in last Saturday’s Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) on Doncaster Day.

He drops from 56kg to 54kg this weekend with Brenton Avdulla coming aboard as the horse looks to complete the Chairman’s Quality – Sydney Cup double since the aforementioned The Offer who also took out that year’s NE Manion.

The other best in Sydney Cup betting including Gallic Chieftain ($11), Angel Of Truth ($11) drawn the outside alley and The Chosen One ($15).

Archie Alexander’s seven-year-old Tamayuz entire ran fourth in last weekend’s Chairman’s Quality and has his third two-mile run this weekend.

In 2017 he ran third in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) over the distance before his sixth to Shraaoh in last year’s Sydney Cup results when carrying only 51.5kg.

The veteran is in on 53.5kg this year and is out to break a year long drought not having won since taking out last season’s Chairman’s Quality.

Last year’s ATC Derby winner Angel Of Truth is also winless in the last 12 months, the now four-year-old son of Animal Kingdom fifth in the Chairman’s last weekend.

Yet another graduate out of the Chairman’s, seventh-placed The Chosen One represents five-time ATC Derby winning trainer Murray Baker with the Savabeel four-year-old 17^th in last year’s Melbourne Cup only five lengths beaten at his other two-mile run.

Click here for the latest Sydney Cup 2020 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Sydney Cup Field & Barriers