What promises to be a mouthwatering Irish Champion Stakes edging ever closer.
When William Haggas brings Economics to Leopardstown for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes the next weekend, he knows he's ready to tackle challenging conditions.
The muscular son of Night Of Thunder hasn't yet tested his immense potential at the greatest level, despite looking the part in his three wins this term.
Following his impressive performance in the Dante, Economics kept up the pace with a stylish victory in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville, and bookmakers have him pegged as a 6-5 favorite to keep moving up the ladder.
Oh he's good! 🙌
Economics cruises home at @fgdeauville for @TomMarquand and @WilliamHaggas… pic.twitter.com/I0UB55EfZK
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 15, 2024
But in store for what will be a rigorous assessment of his qualifications is a fantastic cast that includes Aidan O'Brien's reigning champion Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg's victor from 2022, and Los Angeles, the hero of the Irish Derby.
"He's fine and we're looking forward to running him at Leopardstown," said Haggas.
"We shall see. This will be his first time in Group One, and he will have to contend with the strength of Ballydoyle in addition to a few others. Isn't this the main point of it all? I believe he is ready to take the next step, but I could live with the race being England."
The Sheikh Isa-owned colt is also entered in the Qipco Champions Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot in October, making an ambitious Champion Stakes double planned for Economics this autumn.
Haggas thinks his latest stable star has a bright career ahead of him, even if he is unable to become one of the select few horses who have won both major races on both sides of the Irish Sea in the same season.
"Even if he doesn't win he will still be a good horse and he will be a lightly-raced inexperienced horse who is only going to get better," concluded Haggas.
"I hope we're not there yet, but I'm not sure where his ceiling is. I hope there will be a lot more in the future."
