William Haggas aims high as Rivet steeled for Classic campaign

It is one thing for a trainer to have a Classic prospect on their hands and another to turn those dreams into reality when the occasion arrives.That transition is something William Haggas has achieved on two previous occasions, with victories in the Investec Derby and Oaks topping the list of big-race successes that have helped the Newmarket handler become one of Britain's top trainers.With last year's Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet as short as 14-1 for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, and no bigger than 20-1 for the Epsom showpiece, there is every chance that 2017 could be year Haggas extends his Classic total.He said: "Rivet is fine and I would like to give him a run before he has a cut at a Guineas of some description."At the moment we are leaning towards France but he is in the English, he will be in the Irish and any other Classic we can think of."As far as his best trip goes, he might be best at 10 furlongs but I don't know that yet. "He is out of a Galileo mare so he might get a mile and a half. It is early days, but he looks stronger to me. "I think very much so that he exceeded expectations last year. You always hope when you have a good-moving horse with a pedigree that they will be good. "He is a fluent mover. His brother loved top of the ground and could cope with the soft, but he has won slow ground and I think he will be as effective if not more so on fast ground. "You hope his life is only beginning and not at an end."While plenty of focus will understandably be on Rivet, Haggas could have a filly of equal potential in new arrival Sea Of Grace.The three-year-old daughter of Born To Sea tasted defeat on her debut but won her last two starts for former trainer John Oxx, including a Group Three at the Curragh.He said: "I like her. She has done well. We are planning to go to Newmarket for the Nell Gwyn to give her a taste of Newmarket and the track."She will stay a mile well and might get further in time, but if she is going to win a Guineas she needs to put a good show up in the Nell Gwyn."She has had a kind preparation as a two-year-old and has everything to look forward to I hope."She came in great shape and so far she has had a thoroughly good preparation this winter. John Oxx felt she could easily be a Group One filly and he was going to her in the Moyglare but she got a temperature."We are very lucky to have her." When looking back through the big-race victories that Haggas has enjoyed it is noticeable that a Group One victory at Royal Ascot is an omission from his impressive record. That statistic could change should the talented, but at times frustrating, Mutakayyef, who finished fifth in the Dubai Turf on his first start of the year with the ground against him, finally deliver at the top table. He said: "I think there is plenty of life left in Mutakayyef. He is a good horse in his own right. He ran some very good races last year and he looks pretty good over a mile."I thought he was very impressive at Ascot and that was the first time he did what I hoped he would do. Then he was third to Postponed and Highland Reel in the Juddmonte and I guess that was some of the best middle-distance form of the year. He is going to be attacking some smart races this year."The one race I really want to have a crack at this year is the Sussex. He has definitely got a Group One in him."Progressive stayer Dal Harraild has yet to scale the same heights as a number of his stablemates, but hopes are high he can continue his upward curve, having successfully moved out of the handicap ranks with a Listed victory at Newmarket on his final start in 2016.He said: "He is a nice, young stayer and I don't know how far he is going to go."He is useful already. I suspect he will start in the Yorkshire Cup."He likes firm ground and that is not always the case at that time of the year at York, but he will run in a decent race first time out and we will decide which way to go with him. He will get an entry in the Gold Cup at Ascot."He just got better all year. We are quite excited about him. We would like to look at going to Melbourne with him in the autumn because he is a fast-ground horse, and apparently that's what you need out there."He improved a lot all summer but he has to have fast ground. He has been rubbish on soft ground. He could run in the Jockey Club Stakes."It will be dependent on the ground."