Jockey has a great book of rides in Ireland.
Tom Marquand is preparing for a big racing day on Saturday at Leopardstown, where he will ride a number of notable competitors, including the exciting Maljoom in the Tonybet Solonaway Stakes. William Haggas is the trainer of the five-year-old, who is hoping to improve following a lacklustre performance in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. Marquand is confident in his prospects of winning at the mile distance.
Maljoom, a solid second in the Sussex Stakes earlier in the season, found it difficult to settle into a rhythm over the extended distance at York. He was also unduly eager and did not have a significant influence. "He simply had trouble settling at York," Marquand clarified. It was the first time he had ever done it. He was up in trip with the blinkers on. Hopefully, that will be the only occasion on which he does it.
Marquand thinks that Maljoom may find his best form again by going back to a mile. He declared, "He's a very talented horse if you take that run out of the equation. He was second in Sussex and third in Queen Anne." "He's returning a peg in grade, so he should go really well if the ground is fast."
Marquand is partnered with Economics, the clear favourite in the main Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, so his day at Leopardstown could be exciting. The young jockey is fully aware of the demands associated with these major competitions, and the stakes are considerable. He is eager to take advantage of his opportunity, but he maintains his composure and attention.
In addition, Marquand returns to the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes with Porta Fortuna, the horse, he rode to triumph at Royal Ascot. He is even more excited at the idea of riding a horse with such impressive credentials in the afternoon. Marquand muses on the delicate balance between expectation and accountability that comes with riding exceptional horses as he gets ready for a full day. He remarked, "I'm really looking forward to it; it's going to be a big afternoon." "I just want to see how each horse performs and give them the best ride possible."
Maljoom's return to the mile could be crucial in his quest to regain form against the competition in Group Two. When combined with his own expertise and experience, Marquand's faith in the horse's potential implies that a strong performance is not too far off. Racing fans will be closely watching Leopardstown as the weekend draws near, curious to see if Maljoom can live up to the expectations and remind everyone of his enormous skill. There's a tangible sense of excitement, and Marquand is up for the task, looking forward to an exciting day of racing.
