Tancred Stakes (Group 1)
THOUGH absent in 2024, the Irish-bred Dubai Honour maintained his perfect record in Sydney to claim his third Group 1 from three starts by winning Tuesday’s Tancred Stakes over Rosehill’s 2,400 metres.
A winner of this race two years ago, the Pride Of Dubai gelding with Tom Marquand was simply the best stayer in the race.
On the ‘heavy 9’ ground, he found another gear in the final 200 metres to cruise away from the Caulfield Cup winner, Duke De Sessa by Lope De Vega. Third was Willie Mullins’ former charge, the Galiway gelding Vauban.
Trainer William Haggas must circle this date each year, as since his first visit in 2020, he has produced a remarkable 11 wins from 20 starts, six of those Group 1 wins.
On hand was stable representative Isabella Paul. “He’s just so cool and such a talented animal that he makes it easy. He’s the most perfect horse to travel and he never misses a beat.
“We never have to worry about him and he is the easiest horse in the world. We joke that he is like a labrador, because he is just like my pet.
“I‘m so proud of him, proud of Tom and the whole team.”
Via Sistina remains favourite, at $1.70 for the A$5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 12th, but Dubai Honour now shifts to the second line of betting at $6 alongside Ceolwulf, who also won on Tuesday, scoring a narrow victory in the Group 2 Neville Sellwood Stakes over 2,000 metres.
Vinery Stud Stakes (Group 1)
“SHE’S very uncomplicated,” remarked jockey Damian Lane, following Treasurethe Moment’s Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes win on Tuesday over Rosehill’s 2,000 metres.
Prohibitive at $1.30, despite the meeting having been shifted three days following a rain-enforced abandonment of Sydney’s racing last Saturday, the Alabama Express filly has affirmed herself as the preeminent stayer in her class.
With ease, she won by over a length and was never truly challenged.
“The race worked out well,” added Lane.
“She didn’t love the heavy ground, but because she’s so honest, she just kept on keeping on.
“On the softer ground, she didn’t quicken as well as what she normally would, but she’s so honest and I think she’ll handle whatever you throw at her.
“She’ll excel, though, on firm ground.”
Second was the Manhattan Rain filly Benagil with the Snitzel filly Declichy Boulevard third.
Trained by Matt Laurie at Mornington in Victoria for Yulong, Treasurethe Moment improves her record to eight wins and two seconds from 10 starts, with this her second Group 1 and seventh straight win.
“We have been here for nearly a fortnight and she lost a little bit of weight on the way up and wasn’t completely settled, but as we got deeper, she got better and better and I was pleased with her today,” said Laurie.
“Ten days into the Oaks will be perfect.”
Light Infantry charges
TAB Australian Cup (Group 1)
THE French-bred Light Infantry Man, by the Irish-bred stallion Fast Company, landed the biggest win of his 24-start career, dominating a 10-horse field to land the A$2.5 million Group 1 Australian Cup by two lengths at Flemington on Saturday.
Coasting around the final bend as the field bunched, jockey Ethan Brown looked to have plenty of horse under him.
Opened up with 300 remaining of Flemington’s 2,000 metres, Light Infantry Man was too strong, bounding clear to run a slick 2:00.41 and provide trainer Ciaron Maher with his first success in this race.
On the line, Irish-bred the Pride Of Dubai mare Deny Knowledge was second, ahead of the Kingman filly, Zardozi.
“I was pretty confident actually,” said Maher. “I knew he’d enjoy that good tempo, because of his races in Europe and he’s just in career-best form.
“The team have done a great job with him, Browny rode him beautifully.
“When he ran first-up I said, if he rides Flemington like he rode him at Caulfield (it would be good).
“He’s a strong horse and can sustain it.”
The win was Light Infantry Man’s second Group 1 win, having run third in the 2023 Queen Anne Stakes when trained by David Simcock.
“On his Australian Cup win, we probably have to go for it (Queen Elizabeth) now,” said managing owner Ozzie Kheir.
“His best runs in Europe were over a mile off really strong tempo Group 1s, and he hasn’t had that here, but in this race, he trucked along.
Breeders’ Cup winner to debut
MOIRA, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner was set to make her Australian debut in today’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile, along with the Grade 1 winner Anisette.
Bought by Yulong for US$4.3-million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the Canadian-bred daughter of Ghostzapper, transferred to Chris Waller.
“If she was to find her best form, there would be no reason why she couldn’t train on for next season,” said Yulong general manager Vin Cox. “She’s thriving in her training and coping well.”
THE vote by the members of the Australian Turf Club to decide the fate of Rosehill Racecourse has been delayed by Racing New South Wales to May 12th.
The deal announced in 2023 between the New South Wales State Government and the Australian Turf Club involved the sale of the racecourse for a reported A$5 billion to the State Government, who could then build 25,000 new homes on the site to address part of the housing crisis.
The decision to sell the course now rests with the 11,500 ATC members, who were due to vote on April 3rd.
New Zealand
La Dorada in Sires
Sires’ Produce Stakes (Group 1)
THE Super Seth filly La Dorada made it three-in-a-row, bookending her Karaka Millions 2YO win with victory in the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes for juveniles at Trentham on Saturday.
Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, who had four runners in the race under their Te Akau Racing banner, La Dorada coasted into the race on rounding the bend before showing her liking of 1,400 metres with a four-length win.
Second was her stablemate Hostility, a colt by I Am Invincible. Third was the Darci Brahma filly Tajana, with this being Te Akau Racing’s ninth winner of the race since 2003.
“This filly is an absolute star,” said jockey Michael McNab. “There’s not much of her, but she has great ability, great heart and just a great will to win.”
A winner now of four from five, La Dorada earnings have lifted over $1 million. “She showed her class today and she’s just so tough,” said Walker. “Sam and the team have done a great job keeping her going so well for that long. She wasn’t expensive, costing less than NZ$200,000, and you can’t go wrong buying the Waikato Stud product. I think Super Seth is the next big thing in New Zealand.”