The Tancred Stakes – formerly known as The BMW – is the feature race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and ten talented stayers will do battle in the Group 1 event.
Gailo Chop was dominant in the Ranvet Stakes last weekend and he is a clear favourite in our Tancred Stakes betting market from 2016 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin and the always consistent Single Gaze.
Can Gailo Chop claim another Group 1 victory or will there be a Tancred Stakes upset?
We have analysed all ten horses in the field and our Tancred Stakes tips can be found below!
Gailo Chop
Gailo Chop has been nothing short of outstanding this preparation and he never looked like losing the Ranvet Stakes last weekend. This will be the first time that he has stepped-up to 2400 metres since he finished seventh behind some very smart horses in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March of 2016 and there really is nothing to suggest that he won’t be able to run out the trip strongly. There should still be plenty of give in the Rosehill Gardens track, which is ideal, and there is so much to like about his racing style. He will go to the front in a race that doesn’t look to have a great deal of speed and he will be very tough to get past late.
Almandin
Almandin is the obvious danger to Gailo Chop in the Tancred Stakes. He was very unlucky in the Australian Cup at Flemington last start and he likely would have won the race with clear running. The step-up to 2400 metres is ideal for him and his ratings generally do spike when he gets out to these appropriate staying trips. The fact that he has Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle is a big advantage and he is worthy of his place as the clear second favourite.
Ambitious
Ambitious is the x-factor in the Tancred Stakes field. He could finish no better than ninth in the Australian Cup, but his run was better than it looked on paper as he was caught in the worst part of the track. His best form from Japan would make him the horse to beat in this contest, but there is some concern over how he will handle a softish track as he has done the majority of his racing on very firm tracks in Japan. He looks to have found his right price.
Harlem
Harlem was unable to replicate his Australian Cup heroics and he could finish no better than sixth in the Ranvet Stakes. Gailo Chop beat him by almost seven lengths and it is very tough to see him being able to turn-the-tables on his rival.
Who Shot Thebarman
Who Shot Thebarman has run well in the Tancred Stakes in the past and he always saves his best form for 2400 metres. He hasn’t been disgraced in either the Chipping Norton Stakes or the Sky High Stakes and it is clear that he is searching for further. It would surprise if he was able to win the Tancred Stakes, but he can run better than his odds suggest.
Auvray
Auvray savaged the line to win the Sky High Stakes in what was right up there with the best performance of his career. He will be even better over 2400 metres and Richard Freedman clearly has him in excellent condition. The sting out of the track would not be ideal as his best form is on a firm surface and he looks to have found his right price.
Libran
Libran was outsprinted late by Auvray in the Sky High Stakes and this race is tougher. He is a quality stayer and he is never disgraced in these sort of races, but he has never shown anything to suggest that he is capable of winning a Group 1 event at weight-for-age level.
Ventura Storm
Ventura Storm was excellent when third in the Australian Cup before he failed to fire in the Ranvet Stakes last weekend. He was beaten by more than ten lengths and it is tough to back him off that performance.
Single Gaze
What more is there to say about Single Gaze? She added another Group 1 placing to her racing resume with her second place finish in the Ranvet Stakes last weekend and she really is one of the most likeable mares in the country. Single Gaze defied her breeding to finish second in the Caulfield Cup over 2400 metres in the Spring and she will be thereabouts once again. I’d rather be on other horses to win, but she is a lock for the first four.
Lasqueti Spirit
Lasqueti Spirit has become a very difficult horse to place for trainer Lee Curtis. The step-up to 2400 metres does suit her – she won the Oaks over this distance in 2016 – but she requires heavy riding to keep up with her rivals at this level. She is the extreme outsider of this field for a reason.