Dubai Honour was enormous in his Australian race debut for master trainer William Haggas with the international raider bolting home to demolish his rivals in the 2023 Ranvet Stakes results on Golden Slipper Day.

2023 Ranvet Stakes winner Dubai Honour handed UK trainer William Haggas a second win in the event. Photo: Steve Hart.

The UK-trained Pride Of Dubai gelding put a nearly five length gap on a very good field in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) first-up at Rosehill given a peach of a ride by world class hoop Ryan Moore.

Moore, having his first ride at Rosehill Gardens, got the visitor into a lovely position tucked away third on the fence as the Chris Waller-trained Hinged led the field around in the Ranvet.

Also on speed challenging for the lead a number of times was Annabel Neasham‘s former Rosehill Guineas winner Mo’unga.

Hinged led them into the turn for home and onto the straight, but Moore was quick to push through getting off the leading mare’s back and booting up to level and then pass Hinged with 250m to go.

The eventual runaway Ranvet Stakes winner was flawless over the final furlong with Dubai Honour ($5.50) proving his class on an unsuitable firm track on a very hot day in Sydney.

“He’s a very special little horse. He probably wasn’t at his best last year, but he’s definitely back to it now and it’s great to see him get his head in front again,” stable representative Isabella Paul told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win. 

“He just looks amazing, he’s really been enjoying the Australian lifestyle. He thinks it’s a big holiday and he really really enjoys it.

“He’s won on good ground before. He won on good ground at Newmarket but most of his Group form has been on softer ground including the second in the Champion Stakes.

“We’re lucky, we got away with it today. We’d still like some more rain but delighted with the horse, he’s been really tough.”

After taking off at the 600m and working her way home down the outside late David Payne‘s Ranvet Stakes winning mare from last year, Montefilia ($4.60), got up to finish second.

In third completing the Ranvet Stakes trifecta was the beaten $2.90 favourite Mo’unga.

It is now onto the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 8 for Dubai Honour.

Haggas took out the Ranvet Stakes – Queen Elizabeth Stakes double back in 2020 with another raider Addeybb and looks to have a strong chance in repeating the feat this autumn.

“God, wouldn’t that be nice?” Paul said of collecting a second Queen Elizabeth Stakes win for the stable.

Dubai Honour, who handed Moore with a 169th Group 1 success in the saddle, has firmed into $3.50 second favouritism in all-in 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds online through Ladbrokes.com.au.

“He had very good form as a three-year-old and last year things didn’t quite go his way and William (Haggas) gelded him,” Moore said of Dubai Honour.

“William’s horses when they come down here they tend to perform very well. He was a level above them really, class told. He picked them up well, the race was dead with 300m to run. Very good performance and I’m very happy with him.

“He’s very straight forward, he won that confidently. The race was over with a furlong and a half (300m) to run. First run since October, but he’s in very good shape, he put the race to bed very quickly.”

Godolphin top gun Anamoe remains the $3 top elect easing slightly in the markets that are available in full by clicking here.

“Anamoe is an incredible race horse, he’s got a tremendous record,” Moore said of his main opposition in the upcoming Queen Elizabeth race.

“From what I see he only really tends to do enough so you wouldn’t be sure what’s in the tank.

“That will be a different level opposition. I supposed strictly on form Dubai Honour, it would appear that he will give him a good race.

“When horses win that many Group 1’s obviously they’ve got something a bit extra so you’d always respect them.”

2023 Ranvet Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.