William Haggas raider Desert Hero in doubt for Group 1 Tancred Stakes
One of English trainer William Haggas’ autumn carnival raiders is racing the clock to be ready for the Group 1 Tancred Stakes.
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Desert Hero, raced by His Majesty King Charles III, is only a “50-50 chance” of contesting the Group 1 $1.5m Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens later this month.
English maestro William Haggas revealed Desert Hero lost weight in the long flight from London to Sydney last week and is taking longer than expected to settle into his new surrounds at the Canterbury quarantine and training facility.
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Haggas admitted he is racing the clock to have classy stayer Desert Hero ready for the Tancred on March 29.
“I don’t know about Desert Hero just yet, I would say he is 50-50 at the moment for the Tancred,’’ Hagga said.
“Desert Hero hasn’t travelled well to Sydney and has lost a bit of weight.
“Issy (Paul, the travelling Haggas stable foreperson and assistant trainer) is reporting that the horse is doing a bit better but we are still up in the air with him.’’
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Desert Hero has been the long-time Tancred Stakes favourite at $3.50 with TAB ahead of his stablemate Dubai Honour at $4.50.
Haggas said Dubai Honour and another of his autumn carnival raiders, Al Mubhir, will be entries for the Group 1 $1m Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill’s Golden Slipper meeting on March 22.
Dubai Honour won the Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2023, emulating the feat of former stablemate Addeybb in 2020.
Haggas has a remarkable record in feature Sydney races having also prepared Addeybb to win the 2021 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Lake Forest to win the Golden Eagle last spring, three Manions Cups with Post Impressionist (2024), Favorite Moon (2021) and Young Rascal (2020), and the 2023 Sky High Stakes with Protagonist.
“Dubai Honour has taken to the travelling really well,’’ Haggas said.
“But he has been all over the worlds and actually rather enjoys the travel, he thrives on it.
“We will have an entry for Dubai Honour and Al Mubhir for the Ranvet Stakes next week.
“Dubai Honour is going to end up in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Al Mubhir is there for the Doncaster.’’
Originally published as William Haggas raider Desert Hero in doubt for Group 1 Tancred Stakes
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