How O’Shea put Aussie Tom on the fast track to Group 1 fame

Marquand has become the stable jockey for Haggas and the pair will be looking for a third Queen Elizabeth Stakes when the Dubai Honor seeks to topple local hero Anamoe on Saturday.

It could be a day of celebration for Marquand at Randwick with those who supported him. He takes the ride on the O’Shea trained terrain in the Australian Oaks. It was the O’Shea stable that gave him his first chance in Australia and quickly found that he was much more than a very good jockey.

“I’m not surprised where he’s ended up now because he’s a very decent guy,” O’Shea said. “To have talent and to be a good person is a rare commodity.”

Marquand returned to England and in late 2020 had his first classic – the St Leger on Galileo Chrome for Joseph O’Brien. It was a year that produced Marquand, and by the time he returned with Addeybb for a second Queen Elizabeth raid, he was firmly established as Haggas’ jockey.

“I rode for William quite a bit before Addeybb at home, but James Doyle was his stable jockey,” said Marquand. “The opportunity was there to come back with Addeybb and he did what he did.

“I can’t say it changed my path, but it certainly accelerated it a lot. I went home with a certain confidence and people knew me, which made a difference. That meant I got better rides and then became the stable rider for William.”

Marquand was forced to watch Dubai Honor’s win at the Ranvet Stakes with Ryan Moore in the saddle from home in England after falling and injuring his shoulder at the Inglis Millenium in February.

“That’s the good thing about being the stable rider—I wanted to attack him again,” Marquand said.

“Even though Ryan was on him it was great to watch and made me want to come back here quicker.

“He’s always had that kind of talent but that was his best win.

“He seems to have enjoyed it here and I think he might have gone to another level. We’ll find out on Saturday because he’s performing well in Anamoe.
“He looks like he’s taken another step away from Ranvet and he feels great when I’ve been to Canterbury.”

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Marquand has been busy riding since his return to Australia after the Golden Boot and his popularity will see him with almost full books when he heads to the races.

He will reunite with Jospeh O’Brien when he rides Baron Samedi in the Sydney Cup while Haggas’ mare Purpleplay is his ride in the Queen Of The Turf but he would like to win on premise in the Australian Oaks.

″⁣John supported me coming out of here and winning a Group 1 for him would be great″⁣ he said.
O’Shea made sure Marquand booked far out for Premise.

“We knew we wanted a good filly and a strong rider, and Tom was our first choice,” said O’Shea. “It would be great to share a Group 1 with him because of who he is.”

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