WHILE most of the world has been in ‘lockdown’, it’s been an amazing month for William Haggas’s work rider Safid Alam.

Alam, has had a less straightforward route into the racing world than many of his compatriots.

Aged just 13, he left his home village of Bihar, India, to move the city of Chennai where he worked as a helper in a local yard. It was here, 2000km away from home, that he got to grips with horse riding and the thoroughbred.

Now, 20 years later, Safid rides out and looks after one of the racing’s best horses of 2020, the freshly crowned dual Group 1 winner Addeybb.

After learning his craft in India for over 10 years, Safid came to the UK in 2008, citing both the lack of opportunity and financial security in the role at home. He eventually took up a job at Henry Candy’s Lambourn-based yard, where he stayed for six years.

“In my 22 years being involved in racing, Mr Candy was undoubtedly one of the best trainers I have worked for. From day one he gives you a horse to look after, you ride that horse every day, look after it and build up a relationship very quickly.

“I was taught so much from him. I learned how UK racing works, how horses are trained here, how to get them fit, how to work horses and how many gallops they need. The physical needs of the horse were well catered for there but he also taught me a lot about the mind of a horse. It was a great place to learn.”

It was a position that allowed Safid to build up a relationship with a number of talented horses, Dinkum Diamond the one he remembers most fondly.

“For five years I rode Dinkum Diamond in nearly every piece of work. He gave us so many memorable days before he went on to race in Ireland. I also looked after a very nice filly called Lady Pimpernel, so to be involved with two listed race winners was special.”

Another leap

The quality of horse under his direct care took another leap during his first year at William Haggas’ yard in Newmarket when he began to look after a two-year-old son of Showcasing, Tasleet.

“It was hard to believe in my first year that I was caring for Tasleet. I felt so lucky. He went on to win at Group 2 level and contested some of the best sprint races in the world. He was an incredible racehorse and the yard was full of quality horses.

“It is a great place to work. People there are so friendly and it is another great environment to learn in. William and his wife Maureen look after the horses very well and they are very accommodating employers. Working with good horses like I am, makes it even better.”

Safid went on to lead up Tasleet in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the Sprint Cup and the British Champions Sprint, all of which he finished second in, denying both groom and horse a maiden Group 1 success.

“Tasleet was a very, very good horse and he brought me a lot of joy. I’ve been involved with winners of big handicaps, listed races, Royal Ascot winners and Tasleet finished second in three Group 1s, but I knew a Group 1 winner would be the highlight of my career.”

Highest level

The woodwork was once again hit when Addeybb finished second, beaten by three quarters of a length by Magical in the British Champion Stakes last season, but Safid did not have to wait long for the horse to go one better at the highest level.

Addeybb landed in Sydney on February 29th in what was only his third trip abroad, having previously visited Ireland and France. Both opportunities to race, however, were scuppered due to unsuitably good ground.

“He went over to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes but the ground was good-to-firm there, and afterwards he went to France and the same thing happened,” said Safid. “I didn’t think you could ever expect heavy ground coming to Australia, especially as we’ve been so unlucky with Addeybb.

“Everyone was asking me ‘Why are you taking the horse to Australia?!’, but I guess Mr Haggas knew. After being to two different countries and not running, coming here I was thinking that if he doesn’t run, the boss will go crazy!”

Luckily for connections, it has rained every week since they arrived from the UK, something Safid has said has been pivotal in preparing the horse for both Group 1 assignments.

“For us, the rain has been very helpful. It allows us to keep to a similar schedule to the one the Addeybb had in the UK, and the training ground have been very helpful in watering. Everyone has been amazing to us, from the quarantine process right to raceday. It was obviously a very important trip for us and everything has gone smoothly.”

The first of Addeybb’s Group 1 wins came in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse, providing jockey Tom Marquand his first success at that level. Safid was more hopeful than confident of success:

“I knew he would run a big race, but I thought he still needed some work to be at his best. In my eyes, he was maybe 80% ready for the race at Rosehill. The ground was not as soft as he likes it but I knew going to Randwick that he would win, everything from ground to preparation was perfect.” Win he did, adding another two-and-a-quarter lengths between himself and the Chris Waller-trained Verry Elleegant on their clash at Rosehill.

Intelligent

“I told Tom [Marquand] before the race that nobody will beat the horse today, I don’t care who is running against him. I’ve been riding him for four years now and I know when he is ready. He is a very intelligent animal and will never give his all when he work; he maybe gives 70 or 80% and will save his best for the track.

“I know every single one of his movements and when he is ready to run, and I was very confident he would win and thankfully he did. Foreign horses coming here never win two in a row, so for Addeybb to do it, it’s very special.”

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Safid is continuing his work in new and strange conditions. “The first week we arrived I got to see some of the sights, and the plan was to maybe explore a little every second week, but I’ve been a bit scared since. I’m here to look after my horse and I don’t want anything to happen to disrupt that. (Safid was fined A$500 and Tom Marquand A$2,000 after they hugged on dismounting at Randwick breaking the Covid-19 regulations.)

“It’s just me and Harry Eustace, who is assistant trainer, here looking after Addeybb and Young Rascal and if something happened to one of us it would be a big struggle for the other. I’m avoiding unnecessary travel and just going from our accommodation to my work and that’s it. With Addeybb achieving what he has, it is still the best trip of my life.”

As for what is next? Another crack at the Champion Stakes is very much on the agenda. Here’s hoping for a rainy October.