TOM MARQUAND hopes Dubai Honour can earn him some Tin money.
While most of us are enjoying a Sunday lie-in tomorrow, globetrotting Marquand will be hard at work in the three Group 1s on the glittering £10million FWD Champions’ Day at Sha Tin.
Tom Marquand partners Dubai Honour in Hong Kong on Sunday
William Haggas’ Dubai Honour is a hot fancy for the £2.6m QEII Cup and Marquand — due to arrive in Hong Kong early this afternoon — said: “I’m excited to ride at the meeting, it will be a fabulous experience.
“Dubai Honour was brilliant for me when he won his Group 1 in Australia earlier this month.
“To have a horse like him who can take you to the big days all over the world is fantastic.
“I can’t wait to ride him again. Hopefully the race sets up nicely for us.”
Marquand, 25, is looking for an 11th win at the top level but he knows it will be tough on a card featuring local sensation Golden Sixty, the winner of 24 of his 28 races.
Marquand said: “Dubai Honour has to take another step forward as he is taking on last year’s winner Romantic Warrior.
“William is a fine trainer. He always looks at races around the world. He thinks outside the box and it has paid off for me with big wins on Addeybb and Dubai Honour.”
Marquand rides local horse Waikuku in the Mile but will struggle to get close to odds-on favourite Golden Sixty going for a hat-trick of wins in the race.
Marquand said: “It will be good to be up close and personal to Golden Sixty. He is a celebrity in Hong Kong.”
The jockey will also hope to find the back of the net on the Michael Owen-owned Flaming Rib.
Hugo Palmer’s colt runs in the Sprint having spent winter in the Middle East.
Marquand said: “He has a good draw and will be nice and fit.
“I think he will go well but it will be tough to beat the local runners.
“I’ll fly back straight after the races. I’m riding in Ireland on Monday and Nottingham on Tuesday.
“There’s not much time to breathe and it is very much a flying visit but it is something I enjoy doing. I just feel very lucky to be getting all these chances abroad.”
