Japanese stayer Cils Blancs to miss Sydney Cup as English raider Dubai Honour arrives in Australia

The English contingent for the upcoming The Championships have arrived but a leading Japanese contender won’t be coming later this month.

Dubai Honour has arrived in Australia. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Japanese raider Cils Blancs, second favourite for the Sydney Cup, has been ruled out of a trip to Australia for The Championships as the English invasion began at Canterbury Park Quarantine Centre this week.

Cils Blancs was set to be one of three Japanese contenders for the autumn carnival but connections have elected to remain in the Land of the Rising Sun after he failed to fire in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) in Tokyo last month.

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Bookies had Cils Blancs on the second line of betting at $11 for the Group 1 $2m Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.

Doncaster Mile contender Geoglyph and Queen Elizabeth Stakes challenger Rousham Park will still arrive on March 18.

It comes as four English hopefuls arrived in Australia on Tuesday and have settled into Canterbury Park.

Among them is 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes victor Dubai Honour, which is one of three William Haggas-trained contenders.

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Dubai Honour 🇬🇧for @WilliamHaggas loving his new surroundings in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/2ElSJ1L2Q9

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 4, 2025

Haggas revealed earlier this week plans to decide Dubai Honour’s first-up target after he settles into Australia with options to send the star galloper to the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 or the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29.

Desert Hero, the $6 Sydney Cup favourite, and Al Mubhir have also made the trip to Australia.

Haggas will determine if Al Mubhir goes to the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes and Group 1 Doncaster Mile or Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The James Ferguson-trained Mrs Morrell has also arrived to target the Sydney autumn carnival.

“They’ve travelled well and settled in nicely,” Australian Turf Club head of racing and wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said.

Five horses purchased by Yulong and to be raced by Chris Waller are also in quarantine along with new imports for the heavyweight stables of Ciaron Maher as well as Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.

Al Mubhir 🇬🇧 for @WilliamHaggas heads to his new home after arriving in Sydney.

Likeky targets include @TheStarSydney Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. pic.twitter.com/KqCVZ85REk

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 4, 2025

Originally published as Japanese stayer Cils Blancs to miss Sydney Cup as English raider Dubai Honour arrives in Australia