Haggas and Marquand grab big-race double One Master initiated a big-race double for William Haggas and Tom Marquand at Goodwood when making the most of a drop in class with a last-gasp victory in the Saint Clair Oak Tree Stakes. Out of luck in two starts at Group One level this season, the six-year-old made her return to calmer waters a triumphant one in the Group Three prize. A fourth straight defeat appeared on the cards for the daughter of Fastnet Rock, who found herself in a pocket between rivals entering the closing stages of the seven-furlong event. But once getting clear daylight the 6-4 favourite used her potent turn of foot to reel in Valeria Messalina before going on to score by a neck under the excellent Marquand. Haggas said: “I was petrified about running her, to be honest — the ground is plenty quick enough for her. “There is a very good strip of ground from the seven to the three (furlong marker) which is fresh and a little bit slower, so that is why we ran. “I told Tom to stay on the inside and not worry about it and if he got out fantastic and if he didn’t at least she wouldn’t have a hard race. Thankfully, she managed to get out in the nick of time. “I won’t run her on fast ground again — she doesn’t deserve that. She’s been with us a long time and has basically kept her form because we’ve looked after her. “This was a lower grade of race than she’s been running in previously and she proved today she’s a top-class filly, especially over seven furlongs. If she can get a bit of rain she’s very competitive and very genuine.” A bid for a third win in the Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp is top of One Master’s agenda, before which she could make an appearance at York’s Ebor meeting. Haggas said: “The races for her are few and far between — there’s one seven-furlong Group One race in Europe for older horses (Prix de la Foret). So most of the time we run her over a mile in a Group One or over six furlongs in a Group One — if it’s heavy we run six and if it’s not heavy we run a mile. “There are two Group Twos coming up, one is the Hungerford at Newbury and the other is the City of York. The City of York is on a round track and I think that suits her better, so it’s likely she’ll go there.” Haggas and Marquand also landed Group Three honours with Pablo Escobarr in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes, with the 9-2 chance getting the better of Desert Encounter by three-quarters of a length. “He’s a dear horse and I’ve made a mess of him really,” said Haggas. “Today is the first time for ages we’ve dropped him in and given him a chance to get organised and he showed a nice turn of foot. “We’ve been leading with him because he lacks a turn of speed, but today, ridden better, he’s won a better race than he’s been running in. “I owe an apology to the owner and his team, but we got it right today.”
