Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Tancred Stakes

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Tuesday.

Tom Marquand and Dubai Honour return to scale after winning the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

International globetrotter Dubai Honour made it three Group 1 wins from as many Australian starts in the $2.5 million Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.

Dubai Honour made his first trip Down Under in 2023 when winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Ranvet Stakes before claiming Sydney’s biggest staying weight-for-age race on Tuesday.

Dubai Honour’s win gave his trainer William Haggas his sixth Group 1 success in Australia.

The seven-year-old gelding by former Aussie galloper Pride Of Dubai, proved too strong and tough, defeating Duke De Sessa with Vauban in third.

It's a matter of honour! 👏@WilliamHaggas and @TomMarquand do it again with Dubai Honour who pops another Australian G1 on his shelf with a win in the Tancred Stakes!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/QcLkKmaUdL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2025

The win was Dubai Honour’s ninth from 29 starts and the win took his earnings to more than $8.3 million.

He was ridden by Tom Marquand.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Tancred Stakes.

1st - DUBAI HONOUR (Tom Marquand) He felt like the winner and as a jockey there’s horses that give you certain feelings and at the top of the straight I went out rather than going back in. I think he’d won either way, to be honest. Issy (Paul) does a great job every year and William (Haggas) and Mohamed Obaida, to be brave enough to bring them back time and time again, I’ve got the easy job, I think.

2nd - DUKE DE SESSA (Harry Coffey) Terrific result. Super proud of him. He is flying. He’s in the zone. He just got beaten by a really good horse. He was a sitting duck up the straight. Got up our inside. He tried to go with him and battle it. Winner too good.

3rd - VAUBAN (Tim Clark) He ran terrific. Had a nice easy run throughout the race. Just developed into a bit of a dash home. I thought once he got clear he finished the race off really well.

4th - ARAPAHO (Rachel King) It was a very muddling race. I don’t think one thing went right for him in the whole race. He was super brave.

5th - CIRCLE OF FIRE (Jason Collett) Great run. Really happy with him going forward.

6th - ZECHARIAH (Kerrin McEvoy) He worked home ok.

7th - RIVER OF STARS (Nash Rawiller) She is a lovely mare. Didn’t have much go to suit her. Did a good job.

8th - LAND LEGEND (Damian Lane) Travelled strongly as he does. He presented really well. Just didn’t quite finish off.

9th - ZARIR (Tommy Berry) It just wasn’t his style of race today. Had a beautiful run on the back of the winner. He is a sharp horse when he lets down. Our bloke took a while to wind up. Sydney Cup should see him present well. Hope we get more tempo.

10th - WARMONGER (Chad Schofield) Very slowly run early. We had a wide run without cover.

11th - ASTERIX (Joshua Parr) He covered more ground than a gypsy wagon. It became too hard a battle for him. Unfortunately we weakened out.