City of Troy may have grabbed the majority of the headlines in the three-year-old division this season – and rightly so given his trio of Group victories, including the Epsom Derby. However, he isn’t the only colt to have captured the imagination of the racing public in 2024. Back on the 16th of May, a horse hailing from the yard of William Haggis, Economics, was the name on everyone’s lips.
Simply Sensational in the Dante
Entering 2024 with only a defeat in a Class 4 Maiden to his name, this seemingly low-key runner raised barely a murmur on the hype-o-meter. A smooth success at Newbury on his seasonal return was little more than encouraging for the nicely bred son of Night Of Thunder, and then came the Dante Stakes at York.
Stepping up from Class 4 to Group 2 company in a field containing runners from the yards of Charlie Appleby, Aidan O’Brien, and John & Thady Gosden, Economics was only the fourth choice in the betting market in a seven-runner field. He won like a 1/10 shot – travelling all over his rivals some way from home before quickening up brilliantly to win by an eased down six lengths.
With the Dante long established as the key domestic trial for the Derby, it was initially assumed that Economics would head straight to Epsom for his next assignment – so much so that the strapping colt briefly usurped City Of Troy as favourite for the June Classic.
However, the colt’s imposing physique ultimately counted against his Epsom bid, with the shrewd Haggas unwilling to ask a horse of such build to tackle the notoriously tricky twists and turns of the Derby course and distance. And so, Economics slipped away, for a whole three months – leaving City Of Troy to bag the Derby and Coral-Eclipse on route to a career best in the Juddmonte International at York.
Back with a Bang at Deauville
As time passed, some began to question the true merits of that Dante display. Amongst the vanquished, Al Musmak and Ancient Wisdom subsequently won in pattern company, but Caviar Heights, God’s Window, Cambridge, and War Rooms disappointed to varying degrees.
With those mixed messages, all eyes were on Deauville on 15th of August as Economics, finally, made his racecourse return in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano. Once again tackling 1m2f in Group 2 company, the mount of Tom Marquand started as the 11/10f this time and gave backers few concerns. Held up in rear, he soon responded when asked to improve in the straight – sweeping around the field to score by a widening two lengths.
| Horse | Trainer | SP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Economics | William Haggas | 11/10F |
| 2nd | Jayarebe | Brian Meehan | 56/10 |
| 3rd | Almaqam | Ed Walker | 76/10 |
| 4th | Bright Picture | Andre Fabre | 21/10 |
| 5th | Arrow Eagle | Jean-Claude Rouget | 12/1 |
| 6th | Safwan | Jean-Claude Rouget | 64/1 |
| 7th | Wahdan | Jean-Claude Rouget | 29/1 |
With the three who chased him home having previously won at Listed, Group 2, and Group 3 level, this performance confirmed that Economics is a horse destined for Group 1 competition.
Haggas Target’s Leopardstown and Ascot Showpieces
Haggas received criticism from some quarters for his decision to skip the Derby, but the Newmarket handler certainly isn’t shirking a challenge as we head into the latter stages of the campaign, as he sets Economics the task of landing an ambitious Champion Stakes double.
Leg 1 sees the colt head to Leopardstown on Saturday, 14th of September, to tackle the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and a field likely to include defending champion Auguste Rodin and Irish Derby hero Los Angeles. No easy task, but the oddsmakers make Economics a general 11/10f to hand Haggas a first ever success in the €1.25m event.
If Economics performs to expectations over in Ireland, he will be given a little over a month off before taking his place in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, where his potential rivals include Royal Ascot hero Calandagan and King George Champ Goliath. A deep field yet again, but Economics tops the market once more at a general 5/2.
A Difficult Double, but Not Unprecedented
To land even one of those late-season Group 1 highlights, Economics will need to deliver on the hype. If he manages to claim both, he may yet challenge City Of Troy for horse of the year status. On paper, this looks a tall order for a horse untested in Group 1 company, but if he proves up to the task, he will join the following six stars in completing the British and Irish Champion Stakes double in the same year:
- Triptych (1987) – 1985 Irish 2000 Guineas champion, who ended his career with 10 Group 1 wins
- Indian Skimmer (1988) – Sir Henry Cecil-trained star with Group 1 wins in Britain, Ireland, and France
- Pilsudski (1997) – Globe-trotting legend with top level wins in Britain, Ireland, Germany, Canada, and Japan
- New Approach (2008) – Jim Bolger’s 2008 Epsom Derby hero
- Almanzor (2016) – Brilliant French Derby winner who mastered Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Found at Leopardstown and Ascot
- Magical (2019) – Prolific mare from the yard of Aidan O’Brien with seven career Group 1 wins. The only mare to win the Irish Champion Stakes more than once
