The Tancred Stakes is a 2400m Group 1, held under standard weight-for-age conditions at Rosehill Racecourse. With $1.5m in prize money up for grabs, it routinely produces a quality field, as we have yet again this year.
Looking at the market, Dabble has last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Gold Trip, favourite at $4.20 just ahead of quality mare, Montefilia, at $4.80. Irish raider, Cleveland, is on the next line at $6.50 and Knights Order is not without a hope, currently at $9.00.
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and there’s no real standouts according to the market. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 Tancred Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Gold Trip (13) – $4.20F
Jockey – Mark Zahra 59kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
2022 Melbourne Cup winner who was super first up in the Peter Young Stakes behind Steinem before failing to let down last Saturday in a leader dominated Ranvet Stakes. Clearly come through that run well and the added journey only enhances his chances here. The quality galloper of the field who can easily bounce back despite the wide alley.
2. Knights Order (6) – $9.00
Jockey – Tim Clark 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Wasn’t disgraced first up in the Chipping Norton behind Anamoe before leading and holding on quite well behind Protagonist last time out. Gets out to an ideal trip now third up and will land in front by default. Any rain will help but can win no matter the track rating.
3. Vow And Declare (15) – $11
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 59kg
Trainer – Danny O’Brien
2019 Melbourne Cup winner who has turned back the clock in recent starts. Won the Sandown Cup at the end of last prep and has returned with two good efforts behind Right You Are this time in. Barrier is no help but Nash is a genius in these longer races and he’s not without a hope.
4. Stockman (7) – $16
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 59kg
Trainer – Joseph Pride
“He’s definitely a better horse with the sting out of the track.”
Trainer Joe @PrideRacing hopes for some rain at Rosehill in the lead up to Saturday’s Group 1 @kiaaustralia Tancred Stakes with Stockman who ran second in the race last year. @tabcomau @gregprichard pic.twitter.com/ceeskhwmgc
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 23, 2023
Runner-up in this race last year who was ridden further forward last start and fought on gamely in the Sky High. Prior runs behind Anamoe were more or less barrier trials. Gets out to 2400m now which suits and he’s an absolute mudlark, which will come into play if the predicted rain falls. Each way hope.
5. Arapaho (3) – $11
Jockey – Rachel King 59kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Went super in both the Apollo Stakes and Chipping Norton fresh this prep before a dominant win last start in the Canberra Cup. Will appreciate the further rise in trip here and is drawn to get a cosy run. Absolutely flying and deserves respect again here.
6. Explosive Jack (14) – $23
Jockey – John Allen 59kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Won just about every Derby in the country as a three-year-old before going off the boil. Runs this prep have been promising and he was good last start when chasing home Arapaho in the Canberra Cup. Gets out to his pet trip now and could easily figure in the finish as he continues to progress with fitness.
7. Selino (5) – $126
Jockey – Tom Marquand 59kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Did nothing first up in the Parramatta Cup before dead-heating with the ambulance last start. Added journey should be in his favour but not racing well enough to be considered a live chance in this. Pass.
8. Sir Lucan (10) – $11
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
On the quick back up after being run down late in the N E Manion Cup last Saturday. His win prior was strong. He’ll roll forward again from the wide draw here along with his stablemate, Knights Order, and should be rock hard fit now. Will give a sight.
9. Cleveland (11) – $6.00
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy
Trainer – Joseph O’Brien
The Tancred Stakes:
9. Cleveland (11)
10. King Frankel (8)
11. Saracen Knight (1)
12. Alegron (12)
13. Benaud (4)
14. Montefilia (9)
15e. Tappy’s Lad (2)[2/2]#Rosehill pic.twitter.com/wTQ3ZvAw7I
— bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus) March 22, 2023
Lightly raced Irish entire who brings some solid form lines into this race, including a fast finishing second to Gear Up in the Ballyroan Stakes two back. Has won on heavy ground and up to 3749m, suggesting he’ll have no problems running out a strong 2400m first up here and looks a big threat to the locals. Watch the market.
10. King Frankel (8) – $13
Jockey – Tyler Schiller (a) 59kg
Trainer – Mark Newnham
Kept his winning form going with a solid effort first up in the Parramatta Cup before a close up fourth in the Sky High last start. No query on the rise in trip but he has to go to another level if he’s to win at G1 WFA level now. Willing to leave him out.
11. Saracen Knight (1) – $51
Jockey – Chad Schofield 59kg
Trainer – Danny O’Brien
Second of the Danny O’Brien gallopers who was disappointing first up in the Vic Cup behind Right You Are. Form last prep was solid over these longer trips and he’s well performed on all surfaces. Hard to see him winning but can improve at cricket score odds.
12. Alegron (12) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 58.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
N/A.
13. Benaud (4) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Brett Prebble 58.5kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
N/A.
14/ Montefilia (9) – $4.80
Jockey – Dylan Gibbons (a) 57kg
Trainer – David Payne
🏇 William Reid Stakes
🏇 Australian Cup
🏇 Tancred Stakes
🏇 Vinery Stud StakesThe barriers are all out!#Rosehill #Flemington #MooneeValley pic.twitter.com/xw28fT4ZoH
— bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus) March 21, 2023
Charged home first up in the Chipping Norton before a game chase last Saturday behind Dubai Honour. 2400m third up is right up her alley and she handles all track conditions. Quality mare in good form. Hard to knock.
15e. Tappy’s Lad (2) – $101
Jockey – Joshua Parr 59kg
Trainer – Kerry Taplin
Former Kiwi turned Queenslander who made it two wins in a row last start at Eagle Farm over this trip. Will find this a lot tougher but is a gritty stayer who won’t disgrace himself.
Final Word
It’s not too often two Melbourne Cup winners line up in the same race, but that’s the case here, along with an intriguing international and a four time G1 winning mare. There doesn’t look a whole lot of tempo, with the Waterhouse/Bott pair most likely controlling proceedings and the track is expected to be in the soft to heavy range, taking into account the forecast over the coming days.
Top Tip: 2. Knights Order – as mentioned should land on speed without spending too much petrol and gets out to his pet trip now. Liked the way he ran through the line last start over 2000m, despite leading and being run down. He had arguably his best prep to date last time in work, finishing third in the Caulfield Cup over this trip and should be ready to fire here third up.
Top Tip
2. Knights Order
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Biggest Danger: 14. Montefilia – is absolutely flying. She went super first up behind Anamoe before chasing home another star last time out in good late splits. The added journey suits here and she handles all conditions. Hard to see her not running top three.
Biggest Danger
14. Montefilia
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Best Value/ Roughie: 5. Arapaho – is another who is in great form. He ran out of his skin in the Apollo and Chipping Norton behind Anamoe, before a dominant victory last start in the Canberra Cup. He’ll enjoy a cosy run behind the speed from the good gate here and should be right in the mix come the final furlong.
Best Value/ Roughie
5. Arapaho
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If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Tancred Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
