Dubai Honour revels on soft ground to set up showdown with Australian track star
By Craig Kerry
Seven-year-old Dubai Honour showed he will be a force in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes after a brilliant victory in the group 1 Tancred Stakes on Tuesday at Rosehill.
In his first race in almost four months, Dubai Honour travelled midfield in the $1.5 million feature before English jockey Tom Marquand found a gap at the 200m mark. If there’s a repeat of Tuesday’s wet Rosehill track at Randwick on April 12 for the 2000m race, Dubai Honour’s connections will be filled with hope.
Jockey Tom Marquand and Issy Paul, left, bring Dubai Honour back to scale after winning the group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy
The 2023 Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth champion did the rest, surging home to score an almost one-length win over Duke De Sessa.
Issy Paul, the assistant to champion English trainer William Haggas, was delighted.
“I really enjoyed it,” Paul said.
“I always have that feeling of sick beforehand, but he’s done it so well, settled lovely and just the perfect ride from Tom. I’m so proud of everyone. It’s a huge team effort to get them here, and I can’t thank them enough. It’s amazing.
Tom Marquand rides Dubai Honour to victory on Tuesday in the Tancred Stakes.Credit: Sam Mooy
“Anyone who knows me knows how special this horse is to me and the whole team. He is an absolute star, and at seven years old he has proved again that he is at that top-class level.
“We joke that he is like a labrador because he is just like my pet.”
Dubai Honour, unbeaten in three Australian starts, firmed into a $6 second favourite with Sportsbet for the April 12 Queen Elizabeth at Randwick behind superstar Via Sistina ($1.70).
“A bit more rain next week would be great,” Paul said.
“I think this race, for me, it felt like his race this year, and I was really keen that he came here, and obviously he has proved himself over that mile-and-a-half trip.
“But I think stepping back down to 2000m, we haven’t got an option, but there is no reason to try after that performance.”
Meanwhile, Victorian trainer Matt Laurie expects star filly Treasurethe Moment to be better again in the Australian Oaks (2400m) after she claimed the group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and extended her winning streak to seven.
In her first race outside of Victoria, the Yulong Investments-bred and owned filly started a $1.45 Sportsbet favourite and was well-placed just behind leader Powers Of Opal, which then took off before the home turn.
Damian Lane rides Treasurethe Moment, left, to win the group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, at Rosehill on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy
Treasurethe Moment and Declichy Boulevard quickly reeled in Powers Of Opal before the headline act took over at the 300 metre mark. Glen Thompson-trained Benagil looked to challenge, but Treasurethe Moment lifted to maintain her lead and win under Damian Lane.
Laurie was relieved to see Treasurethe Moment lift late.
“She looked a little bit lost. She didn’t have cover. They spread out, and she was sort of out on a limb and I think she was a little unsure, but class prevailed and she’ll obviously be better for the experience,” Laurie said.
The daughter of Alabama Express is a $1.70 favourite for the Oaks.
It was a first group 1 win in Sydney for Laurie, who was second in the Golden Slipper last year with Coleman.
Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride earlier had a group 2 double with Ceolwulf (Neville Sellwood Stakes) and Lekvarte (Emancipation Stakes).
Ceolwulf ($1.55), which is heading to the Queen Elizabeth, won in a photo finish with Just Fine and Our Gold Hope.
Lekvarte ($19), a multiple group 3 winner, went up a level, hanging on to beat the unlucky Lazzura. Pride said the six-year-old mare would race in the group 1 Queen of the Turf on April 12 before heading to broodmare sales. The win gave jockey Josh Parr a feature double after earlier taking out the Tulloch Stakes with Pocketing.