William Haggas has affirmed that his star runner, Economics, will participate in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot this Saturday, regardless of the weather conditions. British Champions Day often faces the testing ground, and it seems the inner round course may be utilized again if heavy ground persists, as it did last year.
Economics has had a stellar career trajectory, with only one defeat—his debut at Newmarket last November on heavy ground. Since that race, he has rapidly progressed, winning a maiden race, the Dante Stakes at York, a French Group Two, and the Irish Champion Stakes. Haggas expressed confidence in Economics' adaptability, stating, “I’m not going to pull him out because of the ground. He’s won on fast ground this year, so we’ll see whether he copes with it. I think he’ll be OK because I think he’s very versatile.”
Despite preferring the outer course for its conditions, Haggas acknowledged that the BHA's rules necessitate the use of the inner course if required. “The inner course is a bit tight, but jumpers go around there, so it’s fine,” he added.
Reflecting on Economics' journey, Haggas noted that he didn't foresee the horse's potential when he first ran. “He was a nice, big horse, but he was backwards as a two-year-old. He ran a very good race and I loved the way he finished,” he remarked, recalling that the horse improved significantly after a good winter.
In the Dante Stakes, Economics exceeded expectations, dominating by six lengths against a competitive field, including Group One winner Ancient Wisdom and several Listed winners. Despite his impressive victory, Haggas chose not to enter him in the Epsom Derby, citing the strong competition at the time.
Haggas has previously tasted success in the Champion Stakes, winning in 2020 with Addeybb, although it was a solitary triumph without a crowd present. In 2022, he was poised for another victory with Baaeed, who ultimately finished fourth, a result Haggas believes should not be compared to Economics’ current campaign.
He shared insights on the pressure of training high-profile horses, noting, “The Derby was the big talking point this year… I never thought he’d be any good at a mile and a half.” Reflecting on past decisions, Haggas acknowledged the challenges of training and racing decisions, emphasizing the learning process involved in his career as a trainer.
