Dubai Honour: Tancred Stakes defence looms for champion

Rosehill selections for this Saturday

In partnership with Racing NSW.. The rail is out 5m the entire circumference with the course rated a Soft 6.. Showers are forecast for later today and on Friday, then clearing to a partly cloudy 23 degrees for Saturday..

BEST BET RACE 7 - 6.. IDLE FLYER ($3.30 favourite on TAB) Race 1 - 12:30PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1300M) 10.. ANNIE'S ROSE ($3.50 favourite on TAB) hasn't snuck under the radar in early betting like her recent finishing positions might've suggested..

The five-year-old mare had no luck first-up at Randwick behind Super Norwest.. It was a non-event for the Kristen Buchanan-trained galloper.. She then contested another BM78 at Randwick, getting back from a wide gate and sprinting home in an on-speed dominated race..

That was behind Cinsault, a subsequent Millie Fox winner in Group 2 company.. The knock for Annie's Rose is the seven weeks between runs, albeit she has trialled well subsequently, and where she might get to upon settling.. If Rosehill races to it's normal pattern with the rail out 5m you typically want to be closer to the inside, pinching runs..

Dangers:. 4.. Audrey's Lane ($5) was ridden to lead at Rosehill first-up and those aggressive tactics paid dividend for jockey Alysha Collett, who maintains the ride..

Improvement was expected second-up which bodes well for the rest of her campaign.. Has a tricky draw to overcome with several potential leaders drawn underneath her which could be problematic.. 3..

Art Volant ($5) is back to 1300m from the mile which she perhaps didn't quite see out.. Three weeks between runs should freshen her up enough to cope and like that Midway form reference behind Zenmaster.. Honest on-pacer 8..

Danish Prince ($7) next best.. How To Play It:. Annie's Rose WIN Race 2 - 1:05PM GROUP 2-ASAHI SUPER DRY NEVILLE SELLWOOD STAKES (2000M) 2..

BARNAVARA ($1.65 fav) is a last start Group 1 winner in France.. The import arrives in Australia with a reputation to match her $10m price tag.. She is the latest expensive purchase for Yulong Investments..

It worked out nicely with Via Sistina and connections will be hoping this four-year-old mare is half as talented.. The daughter of Calyx has won five on her 13 starts, with four of those coming in her last five starts.. She looks to handle wet tracks no problem, which could prove significant if the forecasted rain falls..

All of the right noise has come out of Canterbury quarantine around how she has settled into her Sydney routine.. The other thing to note is her racing pattern, she strides forward and tends to lead.. Dangers:.

Like the way 8.. Portland ($34) has closed off in his two runs for Matt Smith and now he gets out to his right trip third-up.. Has been sent around $201 in the Liverpool City Cup and Ajax Stakes but the trips were too sharp and last start was compounded by a lack of early pressure, turning into a sprint home..

Was Group One-placed in France as a three-year-old when trained by Aidan O'Brien.. 3.. Wootton Verni ($5) started a firm favourite ahead of Vauban in the Sky High Stakes last start but was too bad to be true..

Forgive him that.. 6.. Caviar Heights ($5) is the travelling companion to Dubai Honour but respect the placement of William Haggas..

How To Play It:. Barnavara WIN Race 3 - 1:40PM GROUP 3-DRINKWISE BAILLIEU (1400M) 15.. NOMADIC ($41) is a throw at the stumps but if punters thought the Golden Slipper was open, check out this year's Baillieu!.

It looks ripe for a roughie.. Enter this John Thompson-trained colt.. The son of King's Legacy was run off his feet in the Lonhro Plate over 1000m on debut before reappearing four weeks later in the Todman when eight of eight behind Paradoxium..

They walked early and made it impossible for backmarkers.. He closed off in the fastest last 200m split of the race despite failing to beat a runner home.. A capacity field over 1400m could see him improve sharply and being a half-brother to Sheza Alibi by a Sires' and Champagne Stakes winner, he should love the trip..

Dangers:. 2.. Wolf Gap ($4.80) comes through the Todman too..

He held his own there having won a Warwick Farm maiden on debut and should also eat up the 1400m.. Nash Rawiller made comment post-race that the colt would appreciate a touch more give in the track, which he should get on Saturday.. 4..

Persian Wonder ($3.70 equal fav) has been well backed in early betting.. He hasn't been able to quicken with the sharper two-year-olds over sprint trips so far in his career but the constant is how strong he has been through the line.. James McDonald jumps back aboard..

1.. Plagiarism ($3.70 eq fav) draws wide and carries the top weight, but has the speed to cross and there doesn't look to be a lot of pressure on paper.. How To Play It:.

Nomadic EACH-WAY Race 4 - 2:15PM QUAYCLEAN HANDICAP (1400M) 11.. CAPTAIN FURAI ($2.70 fav) was put into a perfect spot by James McDonald in an identical race to this two weeks ago.. It left the five-year-old with no excuses and the winner Modella gave him windburn in the run home..

Modella's a smart mare and a live chance later on in the Emancipation Stakes.. The other factor in favour of Captain Furai is the prospect of a wet track and he'll handle whatever Rosehill throws up.. He is a two-time winner on heavy tracks from earlier in his career..

The five-year-old was impressive winning the start prior coming from last over 1300m on a good track, again at Rosehill.. The son of Toronado draws barrier 1.. He is well found in early betting but that looks justified given the make up of the field..

Dangers:. 13.. Our Queen ($4.40) has won four of her six starts..

The anomaly in her form to this point in her career is that all four of those wins have been first-up.. In her defence, she missed narrowly in one of those defeats and pulled up slow to recover in the other when $1.40 favourite - the punters also pulled up slow to recover!. Jumps 1100m to 1400m but she has the profile of a mare going places..

2.. Our Gold Hope ($34) was beaten in a photo finish by Ceolwulf at this meeting 12 months ago over 2000m.. The 1400m is still on the short side for her but a wet track could bring her into play..

Liked her return in sprint home over 1200m.. 6.. Charcoals ($17) is next best..

How To Play It:. Captain Furai WIN Race 5 - 2:50PM GROUP 2-TOYOTA FORKLIFTS TULLOCH STAKES (2000M) 5.. STORM LEOPARD ($5.50) was forced to give away too big of a head start over the mile at Caulfield but charged home into fifth behind talented filly Salty Pearl..

He clocked the sixth fastest last 200m split of the meeting.. That suggests 2000m won't be a problem.. The Hayes stable picked off the Epona last Saturday and look to have placed this three-year-old well in the Tulloch Stakes..

The son of Ghaiyyath is still in his first preparation but is only showing signs of improvement at the moment.. His Ballarat win prior to last start was dominant while the mare that beat him at Pakenham three runs back has gone right on with the job since.. Dangers:.

1.. Arcora ($2.80 fav) is a battle-hardened youngster with a Victorian Derby second already to his name, when runner-up to Observer over the spring.. He was an all-the-way winner of the Australian Cup Prelude in a brutally run race..

Note that Flemington did play very much in favour of on-speed runners at that meeting.. Looks well paired with Nash Rawiller.. 2..

Shangri La Boy ($3.90) might be racing his way back into form.. He failed first-up in the Hobartville before producing a better run in the Phar Lap but it's still a way off what we saw from the Pierro colt last campaign.. 7..

Varjak ($11) made good late ground at Gosford last start over the mile.. He's lightly raced and finds James McDonald aboard.. How To Play It:.

Storm Leopard WIN Race 6 - 3:25PM GROUP 1-VINERY STUD STAKES (2000M) 2.. BELLE CHEVAL ($3.90) set out after unbeaten filly Well Written at Ellerslie last start and went within a whisker of beating her.. She came out of the pack and surged late..

The Savabeel filly gapped third and fourth.. She is untried beyond a mile but profiles for it to be no problem.. This is her autumn grand final, unlike fellow Kiwi 1..

Ohope Wins ($2.90 fav) who is targeting an ATC Oaks.. Another consideration is the barriers.. Belle Cheval has drawn 12 and 11 at her past two starts and settled well back but she has tactical speed as she led when winning over 1200m first-up..

She maps to be a few lengths in front of Ohope Wins in the run.. It's an intriguing battle with Belle Cheval 1500m out to 2000m and Ohope Wins 2400m back to 2000m, having won the NZ Oaks.. Dangers:.

New Zealand fillies have won two of the past three runnings of this race (Orchestral 2024, Prowess 2023) and look well represented again in 2026.. Ohope is five weeks between runs and has changed stables to Chris Waller.. She trucked to the line in a soft barrier trial at Randwick since..

Maps to be last.. 3.. Salty Pearl ($3.60) was beaten by the bias at Flemington two back as favourite before atoning for that in emphatic fashion at Caulfield..

Has had 12 starts but is still improving.. Keen to see her out to 2000m for the first time.. All three of Chris Waller's recent winners in this race have come via the Phar Lap Stakes..

4.. Panova ($6) is that runner this year.. This has been her autumn target too..

How To Play It:. Belle Cheval WIN Race 7 - 4:00PM GROUP 2-SCHWEPPES EMANCIPATION STAKES (1500M) 6.. IDLE FLYER ($3.10 fav) looked a little plain first-up in the context of her short price but she was anything but..

The lack of early pressure in the race made it impossible for her to chase down Gangsta Granny.. Her splits home were still slick;. deceptively quick, in fact..

She was always going to find 1200m on the short side.. The four-year-old jumps straight out to 1500m second-up three weeks between runs.. Perhaps not the most conventional set up but she has trialled well in between..

The daughter of Dundeel was flying last campaign, to the extent that she jumped favourite in the Gr 1-Empire Rose ahead of Fangirl and Pride Of Jenni.. Handles all conditions too.. Dangers:.

13.. Modella ($6.50) rushed past her rivals to win at Rosehill last start in benchmark company.. She was simply better than those..

The four-year-old proved competitive in a Golden Eagle at the backend of the spring and looks a mare going places.. 1.. Arctic Glamour ($6.50) has put two good runs together this campaign..

The latest a narrow second to Lazzura in the Gr 1-Coolmore Classic over this track and trip.. Her credentials for this speak for themselves.. The Frosted five-year-old loves her home track, boasting a 7:2-3-1 record at Rosehill..

The market looks to have the three key chances cornered.. 10.. Churchill's Choice ($19) looks the best roughie..

How To Play It:. Idle Flyer WIN Race 8 - 4:35PM GROUP 1-KIA TANCRED STAKES (2400M) 1.. DUBAI HONOUR ($3.90) has won three of his four starts in Australia with his defeat being a second to Via Sistina when 2400m back to 2000m in the autumn last year..

The globetrotting eight-year-old, having raced in the UK, France, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai is back to defend the Tancred Stakes.. His form leading into this year's Australian campaign suggests that he hasn't gone backwards in the past year.. Jockey Tom Marquand maintains his association with the son of Pride Of Dubai, which appears significant given the potential tactical nature of this race without a lot of pressure on paper..

In the one instance Dubai Honour drew wide in Australia, Marquand looked for a spot midfield.. Dangers:. 9..

Aeliana ($1.70 fav) gets out to 2400m for just the second time in her career.. The first resulted in a Derby demolition 12 months ago.. The four-year-old has come back better than ever, getting within half a length of Autumn Glow over a mile before chasing down Lindermann to win the Ranvet last Saturday..

She's the one to beat but the early price isn't giving Dubai Honour or 2.. Vauban ($6.50) the market respect they deserve.. Vauban started a marginal favourite ahead of Dubai Honour in this race last year..

His return in the Sky High was dominant and like the prospect of him finding a rain-affected track.. The last time 7.. River Of Stars ($23) raced over 2400m she ran second to Half Yours in the Caulfield Cup..

3.. Soul Of Spain ($14) has come back well.. How To Play It:.

Dubai Honour WIN Race 9 - 5:15PM GROUP 3-RACING AND SPORTS DONCASTER PRELUDE (1500M) 1.. SEPALS ($4 fav) ran as well as he could first-up in a Newmarket over 1200m finishing alongside the luckless Angel Capital.. The four-year-old charged through the grades last campaign winning a Rupert Clarke before starting $2.50 in a Toorak where he was flattened in the run..

He bounced back with a second in the Golden Eagle over this same track and trip.. That was behind Autumn Glow and that was on a wet track.. Mornington-based trainer Cliff Brown has eyes for the All Aged Stakes after Saturday..

Being a Group 1 winner the son of Calyx has been lumped with 59.5kg but four of the past seven winner of this race have carried 58kg or more.. Class has a history of prevailing.. Dangers:.

It's difficult to not have eyes for 13.. Enxuto ($5.50) when assessing the Ajax Stakes from two weeks ago.. It's a logical form reference for this..

Had things played out differently in the run, he wins and prior to that he ran second to current Australia Cup favourite Birdman.. Carries just 53.5kg.. 8..

Waterford ($19) has won five from nine over the Rosehill 1500m.. He is also a very effective fresh horse.. The negatives are that he draws wide and won't want too much rain and he'll need a clever ride from James McDonald given the map..

5.. Feroce ($10) didn't run up to his best in the Futurity but has Sepals form from the spring and ran second to Tom Kitten first-up.. How To Play It:.

Sepals WIN Race 10 - 5:55PM GROUP 3-E SECURITY GROUP STAR KINGDOM STAKES (1200M) 6.. KING'S SECRET ($4.60 fav) didn't win first-up but still managed to enhance his reputation as a sprinter climbing through the grades.. In a sprint home at Rosehill over 1110m he couldn't match the acceleration of Flying For Fun but he rallied the last 200m..

In fact, his last 200m split was the quickest across the entire meeting.. That gives the four-year-old a perfect platform to hit new peaks this autumn.. Out to 1200m suits and the son of Shalaa handles all conditions, with a heavy track win already to his name if the heavens happen to open on Friday heading into the weekend..

Dangers:. 4.. Kerguelen ($9) comes through the same 1100m race..

A wet track brings him right into play, as does the step out to 1200m.. The middle draw looks ideal.. 8..

La Fracas ($21) is a mudlark boasting a perfect record on heavy tracks.. Keep an eye on track conditions but the wetter the better for this five-year-old with the Price &. Kent stable sending him to Sydney chasing wet ground..

5.. Mal Coupe ($6) beat all the aforementioned runners home last start and just keeps raising the bar.. 1..

Gangsta Granny's ($5.50) task hasn't been made easy by the barrier and weight but she's a classy mare.. 9.. Pallaton ($10) drops back from the Newmarket..

How To Play It:. King's Secret WIN Disclaimer:. While the thrill of horse racing can be captivating, it's important to remember that gambling is a form of entertainment and should be enjoyed responsibly..

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