Sacred success shows why status quo is working perfectly for Team Haggas

William Haggas was winning Group races like they were going out of fashion on Saturday afternoon, but his wife Maureen – an integral part of the operation – said she had no intention of joining him on the licence and was instead happy to collect the post-race prizes, something she was able to do from football manager Harry Redknapp after Sacred shot clear to win the Hungerford Stakes.

Redknapp, an ambassador of Hungerford sponsors BetVictor, was among 15,000 people on course, which was at complete odds with the corresponding fixture 12 months ago when the ex-West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur boss sported a mask as Covid-19 restrictions robbed Newbury of one its annual highlights.

Olly Murs was booked to play after racing and the chart-topping performance on the track came from Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred, having her first outing since finishing a respectable seventh in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

Hungerford Stakes result, replay and analysis

Ridden by Tom Marquand, she had an authoritative length in hand from Laneqash, while Njord, a Jessica Harrington raider from Ireland, finished third.

Maureen Haggas, often her husband's representative on track, is said to keep on top of the way their powerful Newmarket stable runs, while he concentrates on placing their horses – something he is acclaimed for.

The perfect spot was certainly found for Sacred and the existing arrangement is not going to change anytime soon.

"No, definitely not," Maureen Haggas exclaimed when asked if the pair ever considered emulating Newmarket counterparts John and Thady Gosden with a training partnership.

"It's much better William takes all the blame when it goes wrong and I just pick up the trophies!"

The way Sacred quickened for a stylish victory suggested more trophies might soon need picking up.

"She's an exceptionally talented filly and when she won the Nell Gwyn she looked really good," said Marquand, who has fast become another mainstay of Haggas Incorporated, which also enjoyed a Group brace at Deauville.

"William and the team always believed she had this in the tank. Jane Flanagan rides her every day at home and feels she's top class and that was a top-class performance.

"The keys are top of the ground and getting her to relax early, one is in the lap of the gods and the other is up to us to get it right."

On the evidence provided in the Hungerford, Team Haggas are doing a fine job of that.

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