Aussie Tom' Is Onto Another Lap Of Honour

UK jockey Marquand backs Dubai Honour in giving new Australian visit more traction

- Michael Lee

Gun British jockey Tom Marquand has not quite lit up the place he calls his second home this time round, but still banks on his banner horse Dubai Honour to break the duck at Rosehill on March 29.

It would also come in as a handy 27th birthday present, albeit one day early.

A regular Australian visitor since his Lindsay Park stints as a fresh-faced apprentice in 2016, Marquand has yet to get on the board since he returned Down Under.

After his first ride at Wyong on March 19 finished third, none of his five bookings at the Golden Slipper meeting three days later could fare any better, including Al Mubhir who ran last to Australian wonder mare Via Sistina in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2,000m).

The 1,300m-race winner had no better luck at a midweek meeting at Kensington.

In contrast, at his last sojourn in 2023, "Aussie Tom", as he is nicknamed in the local media, bagged a fourth Australian Group 1 win with the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m).