By Daithi Harvey
William Haggas has high hopes that Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) can develop into a genuine Classic contender over the coming months. The colt won three times from five juvenile starts in 2016, signing off the year with a defeat of the Aidan O'Brien trained Yucatan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October. “Rivet is fine and I would like to give him a run before he has a cut at a Guineas of some description,” said Haggas on Thursday. “At the moment we are leaning towards France but he is in the English, he will be in the Irish and any other Classic we can think of.” Winners of the Racing Post Trophy normally enter the winter months as G1 Epsom Derby fancies but Haggas isn't convinced twelve furlongs will bring out the best in Rivet. “As far as his best trip goes, he might be best at 10 furlongs but I don't know that yet. He is out of a Galileo mare so he might get a mile and a half. It is early days.”
A high profile addition to the Haggas team for this year is the ex-John Oxx trained Sea Of Grace (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}). The filly, owned by he Tsui family, beat Eziyra (Ire)(Teofilo {Ire}) in the G3 Flame Of Tara EBF S. at The Curragh last August after which her former trainer suggested she could be Classic material this year, something her new trainer doesn't disagree with. “I like her. She has done well. We are planning to go to Newmarket for the [G3] Nell Gwyn to give her a taste of Newmarket and the track. She will stay a mile well and might get further in time, but if she is going to win a Guineas she needs to put a good show in the Nell Gwyn,” he added.
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