First-up facts: Why Dubai Honour should be feared in 2025 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill Gardens

Thinking of risking the favourite Dubai Honour in Saturday’s Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill? The facts behind trainer William Haggas’ amazing first-up record in Australia will make you think again.

English maestro William Haggas’s extraordinary ability to have his horses ready to perform at their first Sydney starts, combined with Dubai Honour’s sheer class, can deliver the trainer another Group 1 win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Dubai Honour, the much-travelled, world class stayer, is the $3.20 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win the $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m).

The form guides reveal Dubai Honour hasn’t raced since his second in the Hong Kong International Vase back in December but Australian punters are getting use to Haggas’s horses producing their best in Sydney straight off the plane.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Since Haggas began to target the Sydney autumn carnival in 2020, the English trainer has had first-up winners every year except 2022, when he didn’t send any horses down under. His first-up winners are:

• 2020: Addeybb (Group 1 Ranvet Stakes); Young Rascal (Group 3 Manion Cup)
• 2021: Favorite Moon (Group 3 Manion Cup)
• 2023: Dubai Honour (Group 1 Ranvet Stakes); Protagonist (Group 3 Sky High Stakes)
• 2024: Post Impressionist (Group 3 Manion Cup); Lake Forest (Golden Eagle)

This is a remarkable seven first-up feature race winners from Haggas-trained runners and overall, the trainer’s Sydney record since 2020 is 10 winners from 19 starters at a strike-rate of an incredible 52 per cent winners to runners.

DUBAI HONOUR WINS THE G1 QUEEN ELIZABETH!

The battle we had all been waiting for, @WilliamHaggas and @TomMarquand have achieved the feat once again. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/t36Q3MWjZO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 8, 2023

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

Haggas hasn’t won a Tancred Stakes yet – Post Impressionist failed as favourite last year on the back-up from his Manion Cup win – but Dubai Honour is the $3.20 TAB Fixed Odds favourite for the Tancred ahead of former Irish stayer Vauban at $4.

“If Dubai Honour ran against Vauban over 2400m in England, Dubai Honour would be favourite,’’ Haggas said.

“It doesn’t mean Dubai Honour would beat him but he would be favourite.’’

Dubai Honour completed the Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes Group 1 double two years ago and although he didn’t return to Sydney last autumn, he won in France at Group 1 level last year.

“We feel Dubai Honour is in good form, he’s one of those horses who enjoys travelling and he’s settled in really well in Sydney.

“He’s just a good horse and I think he has a very good chance in the Tancred on Saturday.’’

• Clinton Payne’s 2025 Tancred Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

GODOLPHIN trainer James Cummings has an interesting take on tactics they will use for Zardozi in her return clash with Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 $2.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.

Zardozi ran on well for a last start second behind Pride Of Jenni after the latter produced another exciting frontrunning performance to win the Peter Young Stakes.

But when quizzed on whether the plan was to have Zardozi closer to Pride Of Jenni during the Australian Cup, Cummings replied: “In preparing Zardozi for this race we are focusing on the process over the prize.’’

Cummings said Zardozi’s preparation had been aimed to have her peak for the Australian Cup.

“Zardozi is really good,’’ Cummings said. “She’s ready to run the best race of her preparation.

“Whether or not she has another run in her will be determined after this weekend. I am reticent to say it is her Grand Final but this is her Melbourne target.’’

Reigning Horse of the Year Pride Of Jenni is the $3 favourite with Zardozi on the third line of betting at $6.

• Saturday Market Movers: First-up runner back from $10 into $5

At Rosehill Gardens, Cummings has only two starters with both Barbarossa and Golden Mile at big odds, but the trainer has warned punters not to disregard either’s winning chances.

Barbarossa is at $19 for the Group 3 $250,000 Baillieu Handicap (1400m) and Golden Mile is a $34 chance for the Group 3 $250,000 Star Kingdom Stakes (1100m).

Cummings is adamant Babarossa is a “great each-way chance” as the colt’s form reads much better than unplaced runs at Canterbury and Rosehill might suggest.

“Barbarossa hasn’t seen daylight his last two starts,’’ Cummings said. “He can run well, this colt, and he has the pedigree to match anything in the field.’’

Golden Mile is on the comeback trail after a failed stud career last spring. He has been gelded and resumed with a sixth in the Liverpool City Cup before having a barrier trial between races leading into the Star Kingdom.

“He is going well, this horse, he doesn’t need too much more racing to keep improving,’’ Cummings said.

“Actually, I think he is ‘there’. I know it was only a pass mark first-up but I’m confident he is getting better and I don’t want your readers to be surprised if he runs a big race on Saturday.”

• Melham: ‘Best chance’ Zardozi has of defeating Jenni

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

BROADSIDING will head to the Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes and Tempted will be set for the Group 2 $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m).

Cummings revealed plans for the Godolphin stars after both ran well on Golden Slipper Day last week.

Crack colt Broadsiding claimed his fourth career Group 1 win when he held on to win the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Tempted finished fast for third to Marhoona and Wodeton in the Golden Slipper (1200m).

“They have pulled up beautifully,’’ Cummings said.

“With Broadsiding, we are looking to freshen him up and we are eyeing the All Aged Stakes (1400m, Royal Randwick, April 19).

“I’m keeping Tempted in mind for the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m, Randwick, April 12).’’

• Ray & Duff’s Rosehill tips, analysis for Saturday: $7 value bet on filly with Slipper form

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

VIN Cox has given six months notice to step down as Yulong’s general manager but it’s business as usual for the racing and breeding powerhouse.

Yulong has a number of big-race chances at Rosehill Gardens today including wonder filly Treasurethe Moment who is $1.60 favourite to win her seventh race in succession in the Group 1 $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

Another Yulong-owned filly, Movin Out, looms as one of Treasurethe Moment’s main rivals.

In the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m), Yulong races Zarir and River Of Stars, both Group 1 placegetters in France who are making their Australian debuts.

At Flemington, Yulong has classy mare Deny Knowledge lining up in the Group 1 $2.5 million Australian Cup (2000m).

'DIFFERENCES IN OPINION ON STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND VALUES'

Following his much-heralded switch from racing giant @godolphin, Vin Cox has resigned as general manager of @YulongInvest. 👇https://t.co/nEk8PJ2q5r

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) March 27, 2025

• ‘It still haunts me’: Yulong staffers reveal story behind amazing flood rescue of Treasurethe Moment

Yulong is having a hugely successful season on the racetrack led by their champion mare Via Sistina so Cox’s announcement late on Thursday came as a bolt from the blue.

Cox cited “differences in opinion on strategic direction and values” as the reason he resigned his high profile position at Yulong.

“I want to thank the exceptional team and clients I have had the privilege to work with. I do not want to make any further comment,’’ Cox said in a statement released on Thursday.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

MAGIC Time, another of Yulong’s outstanding big-race performers, impressed when winning an all-star barrier trial at Randwick on Friday.

The Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time was wide during the 850m heat but forged clear to win by just over a length from Joliestar and Switzerland. The trio, who were kept under tight reins and were obviously keen to go much faster, are likely to clash again in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick next Saturday.

1⃣ Magic Time
2⃣ Joliestar
3⃣ Switzerland

A warm up for next week's G1 TJ Smith Stakes for three classy sprinters with the @Grahame_Begg mare prevailing in the Kensington trial on Friday. Firestorm and import Anisette trailed them. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/kJuW7mgBUm

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 27, 2025

Headwall, who ran second to Joliestar in the Newmarket Handicap last start, produced a brilliant fast-finishing effort for second behind True Amor in his 1050m trial. He is likely to line-up in the TJ Smith Stakes.

Traffic Warden could also go to the TJ Smith after he closed his trial out nicely when third to Getafix and Doncaster Mile hopeful Rise At Dawn.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

5 YEARS AGO

Verry Elleegant gave a glimpse of things to come when she careered away with the Tancred Stakes, winning by more than four lengths at Rosehill Gardens. This was the third of her 11 Group 1 wins and later that year she won the Caulfield Cup. Shout The Bar revelled in the wet conditions to win the Vinery Stud Stakes. Quick Thinker won the Tulloch Stakes and backed up a week later to win the ATC Australian Derby. Fifty Stars gave Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes a third successive Australian Cup after his win with Harlem in 2018-19.

Verry Elleegant dominated the 2020 Tancred Stakes 🔥 @[e-mail]/43VQDL2aIS

— TAB (@tabcomau) March 27, 2025

10 YEARS AGO

Hartnell, the Godolphin warhorse, won his first Group 1 when he fought off Japanese raider To The World to win a thrilling Tancred (then BMW) Stakes. John O’Shea, who trained Hartnell, also won the Tulloch Stakes with Hauraki, with both Godolphin horses ridden by James McDonald. Fenway, the $21 outsider ridden by Blake Shinn, edged out hot favourite First Seal in the Vinery Stud Stakes. The Hayes-trained Spillway won the Australian Cup.

20 YEARS AGO

Makybe Diva was at her magnificent best in the Tancred Stakes when she came with a brilliant burst of acceleration to sweep by Grand Armee and win by a widening two lengths. Later that year, the Lee Freedman-trained Makybe Diva won the Cox Plate before claiming her historic third successive Melbourne Cup. Freedman also won the Tulloch Stakes with Stella Grande. Hollow Bullet, winner of the VRC Oaks the previous spring, won the Vinery Stud Stakes which proved to be the last win of her career. The Australian Cup was run earlier in the autumn and Makybe Diva ran a Flemington 2000m track record to win from Winning Belle.

Originally published as First-up facts: Why Dubai Honour should be feared in 2025 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill Gardens