English trainer William Haggas targeting Tancred Stakes with either Dubai Honour or Desert Hero

English trainer William Haggas has earmarked the Group 1 Tancred Stakes for Dubai Honour and Desert Hero, but only one will be sent across.

EXCLUSIVE: English trainer William Haggas has revealed plans to bring either Dubai Honour or Desert Hero down under for the Group 1 $1.15m Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill during the Golden Slipper festival next month.

Dubai Honour is well known to Sydney racegoers after his brilliant Group 1 wins in the Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes two years ago while Desert Hero, owned by King Charles III, is a Group 1 English St Leger placegetter.

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“I won’t bring both horses all the way across the world to run against each other,’’ Haggas said.

“If Desert Hero doesn’t go then I will bring Dubai Honour back to Sydney.’’

Haggas revealed it is more likely Dubai Honour will campaign in the Middle East in coming weeks.

“Dubai Honour wants a mile-and-a-half (2400m) now and ought to do the Tancred,’’ Haggas said.

“But Dubai Honour is in a mile-and-a-half race in Qatar in two weeks worth $US2.5m.

“I should also point out that his owner is from Dubai and would love his horse to have a crack at the Sheema Classic (at the Dubai World Cup meeting on April 5).

“As far as the owner is concerned, going to Qatar and then Dubai is perfect for him.

“But, fair play to him, he has always said you treat Dubai Honour like he is yours and do what you want to do.’’

Haggas said Desert Hero is getting back to his three-year-old form of two years ago when he won the prestigious King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 3 Gordon Stakes before his St Leger placing.

“I would like to bring Desert Hero for the Tancred Stakes,’’ Haggas said.

“If he comes to Sydney, he will go straight to the Tancred without a lead-up run. The Ranvet Stakes is the week before and we wouldn’t ask him to do that.

“If he comes to Sydney then he will be ready to go for the Tancred.’’

Dubai Honour, winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2023, is more likely to campaign in the Middle East. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

In early TAB betting for the Tancred Stakes, run at Rosehill on March 29, Dubai Honour is the $4.50 favourite with Desert Hero next at $6 alongside Ceolwulf and Buckaroo.

Haggas also revealed he intends bringing a horse to Sydney for the Group 1 $5m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships, April 5 – but it is not Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest.

“I’ve got a nice horse by Frankel called Al Mubhir who is a 109-rater and will probably go for the Doncaster,’’ Haggas said.

“Al Mubhir is very useful with cut in the ground, he is not so good on quick.

“We have been doing Sydney a lot now and sometimes it is nearly waterlogged one Saturday and then good to firm the following Saturday but hopefully Al Mubhir will get the track he prefers for the Doncaster.’’

Haggas said Lake Forest may return to Sydney in spring for the Group 1 $5m King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Everest day.

“Lake Forest looks great but he won’t come in your autumn,’’ he said.

“But in the spring he will have one of two programs – he will either go to Sydney for the King Charles and stay for the Champions Mile in Melbourne or he will go to Santa Anita for the US Breeders Cup.

“It will be one or the other. We will see how he goes during our summer months at home before we decide.’’

Originally published as English trainer William Haggas targeting Tancred Stakes with either Dubai Honour or Desert Hero