The Tancred Stakes, formerly known as The BMW, headlines a big day of racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and a capacity field will contest the Group 1 event.
Avilius returned to his brilliant best with an excellent win in the Ranvet Stakes and he will go into the Tancred Stakes as a clear favourite.
Can Avilius claim another Group 1 victory? We have analysed the entire field and our complete 2019 Tancred Stakes tips can be found below.
Avilius
Avilius is more than deserving of his status as odds-on favourite for the Tancred Stakes. He proved that his Australian Cup flop was nothing more than an aberration when he romped to victory in the Ranvet Stakes last weekend and on his best form he has an enormous edge over the rest of this field. He hasn’t won over 2400 metres, but it should not be a problem and he is yet to lose a race in Sydney. As long as he doesn’t repeat his Australian Cup flop, it is tough to see him getting beaten.
Muntahaa
Muntahaa was soundly beaten in the Australian Cup. The step-up to 2400 metres suits, but the Sydney Cup looks like his ideal target for him.
Red Cardinal
You can’t knock the form of Red Cardinal. He returned to the races with a fast-finishing victory in the Parramatta Cup and he proved that win was no fluke when he took out the Sky High Stakes. The question is whether he is good enough to beat Avilius over 2400 metres and the answer is probably not, but he is another that is on the right track for the Sydney Cup.
The Taj Mahal
It has been a while between wins for The Taj Mahal. He wasn’t bad in either the Australian Cup or the Ranvet Stakes, but it is very tough to see him turning-the-tables on a firing Avilius.
Sound
Sound is yet to really deliver since arriving in Australia. He ran poorly in both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup and he only beat a single horse in the Australian Cup. It is impossible to back him in this contest off that performance.
Patrick Erin
Patrick Erin had excuses when he was beaten badly in the Sky High Stakes and he has had to have a barrier trial between races. He has never shown anything to suggest that he is capable of winning at this level.
Vengeur Masqué
There is no fitter horse in this field than Vengeur Masque. He outstayed his rivals to return to winning form in the Torney Night Cup and he was not disgraced over 3200 metres in the Auckland Cup. It would not surprise to see him produce a better performance than his current odds suggest.
Big Duke
After a flat Spring, Big Duke has returned to a semblance of his best form. He toughed it out to finish second behind Midterm in the Manion Cup and he should now be at peak fitness. It is tough to see him beating Avilius, but there is no reason that he can’t finish in the placings.
Ventura Storm
Ventura Storm is on the quick back-up after finishing fifth in the Ladbrokes Mornington Cup. He isn’t going anywhere near well enough to win this contest.
Yogi
Yogi has been freshened-up since his credible run in the Australian Cup and the step-up to 2400 metres is ideal for him. He is a horse that generally does enjoy the sting out of the track and he maps to get a lovely run in transit. Yogi will be storming home in the final stages of the race.
Auvray
Auvray is another horse that is backing up from the Ranvet Stakes. He ran fairly in that contest, but he can’t turn-the-tables on Avilius.
Brimham Rocks
Brimham Rocks has been a little bit disappointing this campaign and he was no match for Red Cardinal in the Sky High Stakes. He would need to improve significantly to be any chance in this contest.
Ace High
Ace High failed to finish off in the Ranvet Stakes last week and it is becoming clear that he does not enjoy the sting out of the track. His best form is more than good enough to finish in the Tancred Stakes placings and he should do that if the Rosehill Gardens track dries out.
Rondinella
Rondinella is the first emergency in the 2019 Tancred Stakes field. She finished third behind Melody Belle and Danzdanzdance in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes last start and the form coming out of that contest has been strong. If she does earn a start in the Tancred Stakes, she can be more than competitive.
Nettoyer
Nettoyer produced a career best effort to finish fifth in the Ranvet Stakes last start. A repeat of that effort would make her competitive in this contest, but she may not earn a race start.
Doukhan
Doukhan its the third emergency in the Tancred Stakes and is unlikely to earn a start in this contest.