Maureen Haggas
The birdsong is briefly interrupted as a pair of colts gallop by. Nothing too strong now, for the major work is done. Maltese Cross and Tenability breeze on up Newmarket's Al Bahathri, giving rise to some contented muttering from the father-and-son team watching on. Sam Haggas was only three years old and was "left at home" the day that Shaamit won the Derby for his parents William and Maureen 30 years ago. He plays a different role these days, as the buyer of his father's fifth Derby runner and racing...
Dunchurch Lodge Stud's homebred filly First Instinct (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a 2-year-old daughter of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), made a winning debut over six furlongs in Tuesday's Weatherbys Global Stallions App EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes at Nottingham. 2nd-Nottingham, £6,899, Mdn, 8-13, 2yo, f, 6f 18yT, 1:14.44, g/f. FIRST INSTINCT (GB) (f, 2, Bated Breath {GB}--Proportional {GB} {G1SW-Fr, $357,727}, by Beat Hollow {GB}) dwelt at the break and raced towards the rear through halfway in this unveiling. Coming under pressure to reduce arrears approaching...
In 2017 and 2018, Aidan O'Brien won both the St Leger and Irish St Leger, first with Capri (Ire) and Order Of St George (Ire), and the following year with Kew Gardens (Ire) and Flag Of Honour (Ire). Given the dominance of both the trainer and his not-so-secret weapon Galileo (Ire), it has perhaps passed beyond being remarkable that all four of those horses are by the late former champion sire, but it is worth noting nonetheless. This year, William Haggas will attempt to pull off that same staying Classic...
Lael Stable's Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) garnered a bumper pot when running away with the Haras de Bouquetot Criterium Arqana on ParisLongchamp's Arc Saturday card and closed last term under the stewardship of Cedric Rossi with a third in Saint-Cloud's Oct. 23 G1 Criterium International. Making her debut for new connections in last month's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh, having been knocked down for €2-million at last year's Arqana December sale, she finished sixth there and rebounded in style to salute in Sunday's G2 Prix de Sandringham going...
Former jockey Lester Piggott, who had been hospitalised in Switzerland on May 22, is improving, daughter Maureen Haggas revealed at Haydock on Saturday. Now 86, the legendary reinsman and 11-time champion jockey has ridden nine G1 Derby winners. A member of the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, the retired rider boasts 30 Classic victories among his 4,493 total winning rides. Haggas, who is married to Derby-winning trainer William Haggas, said, "I went to see him earlier in the week and he's improving, which is good news. He's much...
Legendary jockey Lester Piggott has been hospitalised in Switzerland, according to Piggott's son-in-law William Haggas. Haggas is married to the former champion jockey's daughter Maureen. A nine-time G1 Derby-winning rider, the jockey is 86. Haggas told Sky Sports Racing, "I believe he is in hospital and I think Maureen is going over tomorrow to see him. Jamie, his son, is there today. He's battling a bit, but he's a tough man. Hopefully he'll pull through and get home as soon as possible. "All we can do is train plenty of...